How AI thinks a James Bord takeover could transform Sheffield Wednesday in 5 years | OneFootball

James Bord was named as the club's preferred bidder on Christmas Eve

Although confirmation of the deal is still yet to come, it has been well-documented that James Bord was named as Sheffield Wednesday's preferred bidder by current administrators, Begbies Traynor, on Christmas Eve.

It has been an extremely frustrating period for Owls supporters, who would have potentially hoped to have seen fresh investment already come into the club's coffers, with it nearing three months since the club was placed into administration by controversial former owner, Dejphon Chansiri, on October 24th.

A handful of delays in the process meant that the aforementioned Bord was not granted such status as the preferred bidder ahead of the likes of American billionaire, John McEvoy and former Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, until the final week of 2025.

At present, the former professional poker player has revealed that he is undergoing the English Football League's Owners and Directors Test, although the governing body themselves maintained silence on the identity of the group who were selected by Paul Stanley, Julian Pitts and Kris Wigfield to undergo the current stage of the takeover process.

Despite there now being potential green light at the end of the tunnel for those in S6, Henrik Pedersen has remained frustrated on the transfer front at the start of the window, with the EFL still limiting the amount of additions the Dane can make to his threadbare squad amid valid injury and fitness concerns.

That is despite the fact the club's fate for the current season has been all-but sealed for some time, as Wednesday currently prop up the Championship table on minus seven points due to an overall deduction of 18 points, meaning that League One football next season is a given at this stage.

Supporters will no doubt hope that IF Bord is successful in completing his takeover, that the man who is known for previously advising Sheffield United's American ownership group, COH Sports, on transfers, can help steer the Owls into a positive and fresh era.

With that being said, Football League World called upon AI-based chatbot, ChatGPT, to see what the algorithm thinks is possible at Hillsborough within the next five years.

AI predicts a brighter future for Sheffield Wednesday under James Bord's ownership

With Wednesday set to record the lowest-ever points total in Championship history as a result of insufficient squad depth, resources and points deductions, AI's main focus began from the 2026/27 campaign onwards, which would also be Bord's first full season with the Steel City side if he is to pass the aforementioned test.

The current Dunfermline Athletic co-owner, who also has stakes in Spanish side, Córdoba CF and Bulgarian outfit, Septemvri Sofia, will reportedly be joined by Felix Roemer and Jordanian royal family member, Alsharif Faisal Bin Jamil, for the challenge of progressing Wednesday forward after years of stagnation following two failed play-off attempts at Championship level in 2016/17.

AI believes that next season is all about a restructure at Hillsborough, both on and off the pitch, which means that a squad overhaul is likely, although the Owls would like to hold onto as many young prospects as possible, with many earning strong reputations this term in bleak circumstances.

It has been predicted that Bord will also appoint a director of football with a strong background in analytics to align with his previous work, and that a seventh to 12th-place finish is likely, before earning promotion through the play-offs in 2027/28 after adopting a strong multi-club model with Córdoba and Septemvri Sofia.

Unlike their previously unsustainable model under Chansiri, AI believes Wednesday would adopt a cautious approach when promoted back to the Championship, and that survival would still be achieved with a finish between 18th and 21st, as the club continues to search for hidden gems with high resale values and experienced campaigners on the cheap.

In the final two seasons of the five-year timeframe, it has been predicted that the Owls could push closer towards the play-off places in the second tier, and that they are on a sound financial footing and have earned a strong reputation for being adaptable and shrewd in the transfer market, which is a far cry from their previous predicament.

Although AI doesn't believe a Premier League return in five years is realistic, this is a prediction that would surely satisfy the vast majority of Wednesdayites after years of turmoil.

Following this particular path would ensure that there is a clear pathway for exciting talents to make their way into the first-team without having to be sold at the first opportunity to ease financial burdens, as well as returning to the Championship in a much better state.

However, given how unpredictable the league is, and the fact that not all of these claims are likely to take place, such is the nature of the sport, nothing could potentially stop the Owls from emulating Ipswich Town's prior rise from League One to the Premier League, as Hillsborough is a strong force when the club has momentum on its side.