Once James Bord seals Sheffield Wednesday takeover - one Hillsborough issue needs sorting | OneFootball

The facilities in Hillsborough's Leppings Lane stand have continuously been questioned

In the lead-up to Christmas, some form of clarity was finally given on the takeover front at Sheffield Wednesday, with former professional poker player, James Bord, named as the preferred bidder by administrative group, Begbies Traynor.

The Owls had previously been left in the lurch by controversial former owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who eventually lost his control over the Steel City club on October 24th, when the administrators - fronted by Paul Stanley, Julian Pitts and Kris Wigfield - took over amid fears of an unpaid £1m tax bill.

It has been well-documented that, in the past 10 years, Wednesday have been on the decline, which has led to them falling behind several other so-called 'sleeping giants' who find themselves in the EFL, having also spent two seasons in League One between 2021 and 2023.

Of course, Henrik Pedersen and his threadbare squad have seen their fate for the current Championship campaign effectively sealed through the deduction of 18 points, meaning a new era will begin in the third tier next term.

Despite the fact that Bord was initially named as the preferred bidder, MP for Sheffield South East and lifelong Owls supporter, Clive Betts, has slammed the administrators for a lack of communication regarding the entire process, which has been particularly drawn-out, leaving the fanbase at Hillsborough to play an anxious and frustrating waiting game.

With Bord still the leading candidate in the process - albeit Alan Nixon has reported that it could take some weeks before confirmation of his takeover is given - supporters will be intrigued as to how Wednesday will fare on the pitch, particularly when taking into account the fact he has links to both Dunfermline Athletic and Córdoba CF, whilst also advising bitter rivals, Sheffield United's ownership group, COH Sports, when it came to an AI-led recruitment model in the summer.

However, there is one glaringly obvious improvement that MUST be made in S6, and it is a critical off-pitch one at that.

James Bord must look to upgrade Hillsborough's Leppings Lane stand amid Clive Betts concern

The recent comments from Betts are not the only time that the MP has spoken out about the goings-on in this part of the Steel City, with many supporters across the country in full agreement with his comments on the facilities of Hillsborough's Leppings Lane End.

Whilst clubs across the country often receive praise for keeping a traditional stadium outlook amid modernisation, the same cannot be said for the stand which houses visiting supporters at the 39,859-capacity ground.

Of course, this particular end of the stadium was where Liverpool supporters were housed during the tragic 1989 disaster in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, in which inquests back in 2016 determined that 97 Reds supporters were unlawfully killed in a crush.

Back in 2024, a "near miss" of the same outcome labelled concerns from a sold-out away end of Newcastle United supporters in an FA Cup third round victory for the Owls 13 months previous, before West Bromwich Albion supporter, Mark Townsend, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in the same stand in September 2024, with his brother, Steve, stating after the subsequent inquest that "In my eyes that stand should have been torn down after the Liverpool tragedy."

Last month, the aforementioned Betts said on BBC Radio Sheffield: "I go to Hillsborough every home game, I go on the kop, I look across at the West Stand, the Leppings Lane end where 97 people died 36 years ago, and it's still there, almost untouched."

Betts also stated that it's untouched presence is "a disgrace...to the football world", with it being reported by the Athletic in 2024 that the stadium, and in particular, the Leppings Lane end still has 'disturbing' safety shortcomings.

James Bord could make welcomed Sheffield Wednesday upgrade with Leppings Lane end alteration

When, and potentially, IF, Bord is officially named as Wednesday's next custodian, the 45-year-old will have plenty of issues to resolve in the short and long-term.

However, with the concerns of the Leppings Lane Stand tracing back for over 35 years, this is an issue which he, and the club, will hope, can be tackled as soon as possible, with the safety of supporters and club staff on matchdays paramount.

It remains to be seen what approach would be taken, as, of course, the logistics of reshaping, or fully demolishing and rebuilding an entire stand are far from straightforward, particularly after Wednesday's well-documented cash-flow issues in recent times.

Regardless, though, Bord has the chance to take the club into a new era for good if the issue regarding the Leppings Lane end were to be resolved, as the likes of Betts will not have to be reminded of the scene of English football's darkest day.