What Charlie Methven once said in infamous Sunderland AFC clip amid Sheffield Wednesday takeover talk | OneFootball

Charlie Methven has been linked with a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, but he is best known for his infamous comments during his time at Sunderland.

After former owner Dejphon Chansiri put the club into administration, the race is on for interested parties to strike a deal to buy Sheffield Wednesday.

Following months of off-field and financial turmoil, Chansiri put Wednesday and the company through which he owned the stadium into administration last month, bringing his turbulent decade-long tenure to an end.

The Owls were given a 12-point deduction after entering administration, which all but guarantees they will be relegated to League One this season, but despite that, the feel-good factor is back at Hillsborough after Chansiri's exit, and supporters have returned in their numbers after ending their boycott of tickets and merchandise.

A host of names have been linked with a takeover of Wednesday in recent weeks, including former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor, ex-Newcastle United chief Mike Ashley and US billionaire John McEvoy, and while the club must remain on the market for at least 28 days after going into administration, a takeover deal could potentially be completed before the end of the year.

It seems there is no shortage of interest in the Owls, with seven parties showing proof of funds of £50 million so far, while joint-administrator Kris Wigfield confirmed that one interested party had been shown around the club on Thursday, and two or three more are set to be given a tour next week.

While the initial takeover rumours have mainly involved Textor, Ashley and McEvoy, speculation has been gathering pace about a possible takeover bid by former Sunderland owner Charlie Methven, who was spotted in the stands watching Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Norwich City in midweek.

Charlie Methven's infamous Sunderland past amid Sheffield Wednesday takeover talk

Methven is no stranger to the world of football having purchased a 6% stake in Sunderland in May 2018, and he also served as the club's executive director until stepping down from his role in December 2019.

The Black Cats are not the only club Methven has been involved with as he became the co-owner of Charlton Athletic when his consortium SE7 Partners bought the Addicks in July 2023, and he remained at The Valley until resigning from his position as CEO in March this year.

However, despite Methven's extensive involvement in football, he is perhaps best known for an awkward scene in the Netflix documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die, in which he made some infamous comments when discussing ideas for walk-on music at the Stadium of Light.

"This is 'Dance of the Knights' right?" Methven asked.

"Which, for some people, has some associations with glorious times past, etcetera, for that short period when everything was going really well.

"My personal instinct is new start, fresh beginnings, new sound. Can someone challenge me on that?"

When it was put to Methven that his choice of track was too slow and boring, he replied: "Listen to this. This is how I would do it if I was the DJ.

"You've got to try and build people up, you've got to try and get the atmosphere building through a track.

"If you think about the atmosphere that Chris and I agreed we'd try and create, we want it to be rocking in there and a little bit mad.

"Sunderland fans take pride in the fact that this place is going to be a bit noisier, a bit more in your face."

Methven was then told that it was irrelevant what song was chosen unless the club got a new PA system, which resulted in a few seconds of him standing with a despairing look on his face with the caption *EDM continues* on the screen before turning the music off.

Charlie Methven rumours should not alarm Sheffield Wednesday fans despite Sunderland scenes

The discussion between Methven and his former Sunderland colleagues went viral on social media after the release of the documentary, and the scene was certainly reminiscent of something from The Office, with Methven doing an excellent unintentional impression of David Brent.

Methven will forever be remembered for that exchange, but while Wednesday supporters may initially fear his potential takeover, he did help to rebuild Sunderland and Charlton on and off the pitch during his time at those clubs, with both having been in desperate predicaments prior to his arrival.

The Owls faithful may understandably be expecting a more exciting new owner than Methven, and there may well be better options out there for the South Yorkshire outfit, but the ridicule he has received for his role in the Sunderland documentary is arguably somewhat unfair.