Ambitious Sheffield Wednesday takeover plan revealed as details of Dejphon Chansiri rebuked bids surfaces | OneFootball

Adam Shaw, leader of the US consortium aiming to buy the Owls, has laid out his vision

Sheffield-born US businessman Adam Shaw has laid down his future plans for Sheffield Wednesday in a new interview with The Athletic.

Florida-based Shaw is heading up a 16-strong consortium to purchase the Owls, which is made up of current and former Major League Baseball stars, an ex-Premier League player and a well-known celebrity.

American investor John Flanagan is, however, the only other member of the group publicly named so far.

Thus far, the consortium has had two bids rejected by current chairman Dejphon Chansiri, of $65 million and $75 million.

Adam Shaw’s vision for Sheffield Wednesday: upgraded Hillsborough, world class facilities and a new stadium

Shaw, a lifelong Wednesdayite, is clear that his group’s ambitions are not just about ownership - they’re about modernisation, infrastructure and the Owls’ global reach.

“Sheffield Wednesday are nowhere in America. We sell zero shirts and have no commercial presence there - that’s got to change,” he told The Athletic.

“With the World Cup in the U.S. next year and with the individuals we have in our ownership group, we could easily become Florida’s English football team.

“We should and can be way bigger than Wrexham. Ryan Reynolds would give his left leg to have what we already have at Wednesday in terms of our history and fanbase. Let’s use that.”

Shaw’s material plans include an immediate overhaul of the club’s stadium, academy and training facilities, aiming to position them among the best in the country.

“We are Sheffield Wednesday - we are a big enough club to create the best academy and training facilities in the UK if we put our minds to it,” Shaw added.

“Let’s get Hillsborough fully open and give fans something decent to eat and drink, with service with a smile.

"We’d also really like to see if we can wrap three of the sides, to create a more modern, bowl effect, but we would leave the South Stand alone, as we want a mix of old and new.”

Looking further ahead, Shaw’s consortium has even floated the idea of relocating to a new, 55,000-capacity stadium in “perhaps five years,” though he insists this would be done in full consultation with supporters.

“We wouldn’t do anything without consulting the fans, but we think the club should have a home where people can park more easily and have up-to-date facilities," claimed Shaw.

“If we want to create a culture that ensures we become a sustainable, competitive and successful Premier League side, then we must be proactive. Premier League clubs are all upgrading their stadiums.”

US consortium offer commitments to Sheffield Wednesday supporters amid takeover attempts

At the heart of Shaw’s pitch to supporters is a belief that Wednesday should become more inclusive, more connected to its community, and more honourable in acknowledging its past.

As a mental health advocate, Shaw wants the club to take a renewed approach to the legacy of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. as he claims that "one way to overcome something that traumatic is to embrace what happened for all those affected.".

His plans for engagement extend to matchdays too. Shaw pledged to make tickets more affordable and to introduce a scheme giving away up to 5,000 free seats per game to key workers and military personnel.

“I know this is an American tradition, but I believe all Sheffield Wednesday fans would get behind this initiative," Shaw also said.

"It’s the very least our great club can do for all those brave first-responders and military personnel who have sacrificed so much for others every single day of their lives.”

He also wants to see more fan involvement at board level, improvements to the club’s merchandise and retail operations, and a return to a more traditional version of the club’s iconic owl crest.

Shaw also voiced his support for current manager Danny Rohl, who remains in conflict with Chansiri, and it remains to be seen if the German will return to work after angling for a move since the 2024-25 season ended.