Why Sheffield Wednesday could look like Brighton and Brentford if Englishman seals takeover | OneFootball

One of the three potential parties to take control of Sheffield Wednesday could be exciting for Owls fans

One potential Sheffield Wednesday owner is attempting to recreate successful models pioneered by the likes of Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.

The two Premier League sides, owned by Matthew Benham and Tony Bloom respectively, famously built their way to the Premier League, where they have sustained their position for a number of years, using clever data analytics tools.

James Bord, a former professional poker player, is one of three interested parties in Wednesday, and has worked under both Benham and Bloom.

Given the success his mentors have found using similar plans, the Owls may be most excited by his proposal.

James Bord wants to recreate Brentford and Brighton success

Bord, similarly to Benham and Bloom, comes from the world of gambling.

The latter pair used advanced statistical research to find edges to exploit mispricing, before transferring that ethos to football, finding undervalued players, developing them and then selling them on for profit.

There is perhaps no better example of this process than with Moises Caicedo, who Brighton signed for £4m in 2021 from Independiente del Valle, before selling him on to Chelsea just two years later for a mind-boggling £115m total package, presuming add-ons are met.

In an interview in May by The Athletic, given regarding the Londoner’s investment in Scottish side Dunfermline, Bord said he wanted to use his expertise in AI and data analytics to build a multiple club group, which would be self-sufficient through player trading.

In a nutshell, precisely what Brentford and Brighton did and are still doing, to great success.

James Bord’s comments on Dunfermline will please Sheffield Wednesday fans

Speaking in that May interview, Bord said: “I bought Dunfermline because I love the underdog.

“The ambition is to bring back some of their history, but also to change the atmosphere at the club. Optimism. They are a very passionate fanbase that has suffered enough pain and we’d like to bring them some joy.”

Swap Dunfermline for Wednesday in those quotes, and it’d be music to the ears of Owls fans, following a rough few years under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri.

He went on to confirm that he wants a promotion for the Scottish side within two years, and European football every third season. The last part of that may be slightly trickier to recreate in England, but roadmapped promotion plans would be more than welcome at Hillsborough Stadium.

Bord was part of a US-based investment in Spanish side Cordoba last year, and also bought a stake in Bulgarian outfit Septemvri Sofia. A purchase of Wednesday would see them enter this sphere, and would surely be the primary side in the multi-club model.

Smart thinking could be what Sheffield Wednesday need

A smart thinker and data-obsessive like Bord could be exactly what Wednesday need for the rocky path ahead.

A recent update from the BBC suggests that a transfer embargo, previously expected to run until January 2027, could actually be removed next month as the new owners come in.

That is big news, but it doesn’t mean an entirely simple path.

A six-point deduction this month, added to the 12 they were docked in October for entering administration, means that barring a miracle, they will be relegated to League One for next season.

Dealing with that, a depleted squad and no doubt a range of necessary infrastructure spending all at once will be tough to navigate, and is unlikely to leave endless pots of money for new signings, regardless of who takes over.

That’s where innovation and shrewd business will be required, to find gems at a tough price to assist the Owls in the league first and foremost, before hopefully topping up the accounts further down the line.

It is a plan that has worked to great effect for Brighton and Brentford; the project’s latest disciple could be exactly what’s needed to get Wednesday back on the right path.