How Mike Ashley feels about Sheffield Wednesday takeover bid - he's waiting for something to happen | OneFootball

Mike Ashley has been linked with a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday

Mike Ashley’s strategy for winning the takeover process to buy Sheffield Wednesday is to outlast his rival bidders.

According to The Athletic, the former Newcastle United owner is the only prospective new owner who has not yet met the £30 million reserve price.

However, he is still considered to be in the running to purchase the Championship side, who went into administration on 24 October.

Begbies Traynor were appointed, and they are seeking to find someone that can take over the club in place of Dejphon Chansiri.

Whoever does become the Owls’ next owner will have to plan for life in League One, with the team already cut adrift at the bottom of the Championship table after receiving 18 points worth of deductions from the EFL.

Mike Ashley’s Sheffield Wednesday takeover stance

Ashley has submitted a bid believed to be worth around £27 million, which includes a £15 million payment to Chansiri, as well as £3 million in fees owed to Begbies Traynor and legal firm Wiggin.

However, it’s understood that the English businessman is hoping for the other potential bids to falter as his strategy for winning this bidding war.

John McEvoy and the Storch family have come together to build a consortium that has met the £30 million reserve price, with James Bord being the third party seeking ownership of the Yorkshire outfit.

Ashley has previous experience in football ownership from his time in charge at Newcastle, and he is seeking a potential return to the game through Sheffield Wednesday.

He sold his stake in the Magpies in 2021 to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a deal worth a reported £305 million.

The Owls are bottom of the Championship table, with Henrik Pedersen’s side on minus nine points from 20 games played.

Next up for Sheffield Wednesday is a trip to face Ipswich Town on 20 December in a 3pm kick-off.

Mike Ashley’s bid offers some red flags to Sheffield Wednesday supporters

The consortium of McEvoy and the Storch family shows a lot of promise, as pooling their resources together could be quite beneficial for Sheffield Wednesday.

However, Ashley has the resources himself to turn things around at Hillsborough, and his decision not to meet the £30 million reserve price does raise questions over his commitment to the club.

The 61-year-old was often criticised by Newcastle supporters for his lack of investment, and Sheffield Wednesday fans will be wary of that now.

Relying on the other bids to falter in order to swoop in and win this bidding process likely puts him as the third most likely party of three to be the next owner of the Championship side at this stage.