New twist revealed in Sheffield Wednesday takeover race | OneFootball

The race to buy Sheffield Wednesday out of administration has already taken some twists and turns, and there could yet be more to follow.

The sale of Sheffield Wednesday has already taken several twists and turns, and it seems likely that more will be ahead before it is completed.

Sheffield Wednesday have now been in administration for almost two months, and fresh reports are warning that there could be still further delays before the club is actually sold.

The bidding war for Wednesday had been reported to have settled on one of three groups, but there has been some degree of confusion over the status of these bids, and with the administrators themselves subject to confidentiality agreements, there hasn't been much that they've been able to say to fans of the club about the ongoing discussions regarding getting the club out of administration and back on their feet again.

And now, fresh reporting has shone a little light on why this might be, as well as warning that there could be further surprises as the sale of the club grows ever closer.

Sheffield Wednesday sale may take longer than had been anticipated

The Sheffield Star has reported on the current state of the bidding to buy Sheffield Wednesday, and they state that the position regarding the sale of the club is becoming increasingly convoluted, saying that It had recently been reported that there were three main contenders in the race to purchase the Owls, namely former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, a merged US consortium centred on bids from John McEvoy and the Storch family, and also a bid led by former poker player and football analytics enthusiast James Bord.

But they report that this has changed in the last few days, saying that, 'Over the course of the last few days it has been suggested that neither Bord nor McEvoy are now involved, and while – as reported by Radio Sheffield – the Storch family have made an official bid, The Star understands that they have found a new, as yet unnamed, partner in their attempts to purchase the club.'

It had previously been indicated by the administrators that Sheffield Wednesday could be reasonably confident of avoiding a 15-point deduction for the start of the 2026-27 season under EFL rules regarding making a minimum 25p in the pound offer to unsecured creditors, but that now, "some potential buyers would be willing to accept a 15-point deduction and instead invest the money saved into the club and squad, rather than 'overpaying’ during what remains a distressed sale.

The good news here for Wednesday fans is that a lower price may flush out other potential buyers. The Star also reports that to do so "would open the floor to other potential buyers – including some that have previously dropped out of the running."

Wednesday fans will be concerned about the possibility of a 15-point deduction for next season

The big concern for Sheffield Wednesday about the latest reporting on the sale of their club will be the possibility of a 15-point deduction for next season, should bids to buy the club out of administration not reach the threshold of paying unsecured creditors 25p in the pound.

Wednesday fans have been hoping for a completely clean slate following administration, and the administrators themselves had previously indicated that there should be no issue in reaching that threshold. A failure to do so would trigger EFL rules on exiting administration, meaning that the club would be hamstrung in - as they're expected to be - League One next season.

It is unlikely that the EFL will be impressed by buyers seeking to circumvent rules which are intended to protect creditors in the eventuality of a club ending up in this position.

But it has become increasingly clear over the last couple of weeks that the takeover process is proving trickier than may have been originally assumed, and it now seems highly unlikely that it will be completed by the start of the January transfer window.

With manager Henrik Pedersen desperately needing further reinforcement for his threadbare first-team squad, it now seems likely that Sheffield Wednesday will at the very least remain under extremely tight restrictions for that month, and that there is at least a possibility that the club might yet start next season with a further 15-point handicap in place.