Sheffield Wednesday takeover: How much bigger the Storch bid was compared to Mike Ashley's | OneFootball

Mike Ashley's takeover bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday is to be outdone by David Storch and how much by has been revealed...

Mike Ashley and David Storch are both keen to complete a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday after James Bord's bid collapsed, but the latter has emerged as the preferred bidder by the Hillsborough administrators.

It was recently reported by The Irish Times that new bids to buy the Owls were expected by Friday 6th March, with David Storch and Mike Ashley the frontrunners for a takeover of Wednesday in the coming weeks and months.

Regarding Ashley, links to Sheffield Wednesday first emerged in October 2025, but other bidders were preferred and Bord stole a march on the competition. However, with reports last month claiming Ashley was keen on a deal in case Bord's takeover collapsed, talk has surged once more.

With relegation confirmed in recent weeks, Sheffield Wednesday fans are desperate for positivity and hope. It appears some has now emerged, with Storch outbidding Ashley in the race to secure the famous and historic South Yorkshire outfit.

Alan Biggs reveals David Storch outbidding Mike Ashley for Sheffield Wednesday

Alex Crook reported recently that Ashley was 'waiting in the wings' over a deal for Wednesday. Mere days later, it was suggested that three buyers were looking at Wednesday again, including Ashley.

Since then, it has been revealed that Ashley and Storch were vying to become the Owls' next preferred bidder, following the Bord consortium's collapse, while former Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven was also in the Wednesday takeover picture.

It has been reported by Alan Nixon that offers have been received by Begbies Traynor following Friday’s deadline. Not only that, but it is believed that the Storch family have made a significantly greater bid than Ashley at this stage.

In fact, it has been reported by BBC journalist Andy Giddings that Ashley’s bid is lower than the Storch's offer by a considerable margin, although it was not clear immediately if it was enough to secure preferred bidder status.

However, it now has and Alan Biggs of talkSPORT and the Sheffield Star has revealed the latest information regarding Storch's bid. Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), he said: "The Storch-Costin bid thought to be almost twice Ashley’s, circa £18m.

"Have been other bidders around that mark but crucially the Storch group well ahead on EFL checks said to be nearly complete. Also well regarded by the supporters trust, I believe.

"Be glad to see this given the official go-ahead & off everyone’s back! In a totally different league to the Bord approach. I like acceptance of a long-term long-haul mission. That’s realistic for starters."

Per Biggs, the offer is only worth a little over £10 million, which is well below the initial asking price to buy Wednesday of closer to £30 million.

The stumbling blocks regarding David Storch buying Sheffield Wednesday ahead of Mike Ashley

Carlton Palmer wanted Ashley to buy Wednesday, but one of the issues was that Wednesday could start with a points deduction if Ashley sealed a deal. That is a huge blow to their promotion hopes in League One before a ball has even been kicked.

However, according to an update from Alan Nixon, the Storch group is also prepared to take the 15-point deduction in order to purchase the club. It means that it will all come down to Storch managing to ratify a deal with the EFL, with the club's administrator statement reading: "The offer from Arise Capital Partners represents the strongest proposal received following the renewed bidding process initiated last week. The offer is less than the amount required to pay creditors 25p in the £ - whilst the offer does not deliver the same level of creditor return as the previous proposed transaction, it nevertheless represents the best available outcome currently achievable and provides a clear pathway toward securing the Club’s long term future."

But there are more stumbling blocks to overcome yet after the drawn-out process with Bord eventually failed. That is because, according to The Athletic, the Storch bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday will have to answer questions regarding a $55 (£41) million settlement.

It is a settlement that his company AAR Corp paid in 2024. This could prove to be the primary stumbling block in a bid to get the Wednesday takeover ratified as quickly as possible in the coming weeks, but one hurdle has been overcome already.