James Bord Consortium Leads Sheffield Wednesday Takeover Bid

Sheffield Wednesday’s ongoing ownership crisis has moved toward a solution after a group led by James Bord, a former poker professional, became the club’s top choice as buyer. This decision marks a crucial step to sell the Championship team, which has been under administration since October due to serious financial troubles.

Preferred Bidder Chosen in Sheffield Wednesday Ownership Battle

The South Yorkshire club’s administrators said they picked one bid to move forward after weeks of review, but they did not name the winning group. Several sources later pointed out that Bord’s team beat out other offers, including those from ex-Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and American investor David Storch, reported The Times.

The collapse into administration on Wednesday marked the end of Dejphon Chansiri‘s 10-year reign. Piling debts, unpaid taxes, and constant holdups in wage payments pushed the club to go bust, leading to severe sporting punishments. The Owls now find themselves at the bottom of the Championship standings with minus points and are staring at an almost unavoidable drop to League One.

Bord, who was born in London but now lives in Las Vegas, is known outside of football for his earlier career playing poker, where he won millions in prizes. After quitting professional poker, he turned his attention to data science and AI, starting the analytics company Short Circuit Science. His firm has given advice to several clubs about how to recruit players, including Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur. They focus especially on finding young players who are worth more than their current value.

Bord’s Global Football Investments Frame Sheffield Wednesday Bid

Football ownership is not a new field for Bord. He has invested in Spanish second-tier team Córdoba, Bulgarian club Septemvri Sofia, and co-owns Scottish Championship team Dunfermline Athletic, which he bought this year with his business partner Evan Sofer. Administrators pointed out this portfolio when they explained that the chosen bidder had relevant experience in running clubs within regulated league systems.

The English Football League (EFL) still needs to approve the planned takeover, including its owners’ and directors’ tests. People expect a thorough review of the bid because of Bord’s previous ties to the gambling industry and poker world. Yet, reports say the offer meets EFL rules about paying creditors, which should stop more points being taken off next season.

Fans have mixed feelings about the news. Some are wary, wondering about the money behind the offer and whether using data can bring stability after years of chaos. Others are just glad the selling process is moving forward after months of not knowing what would happen. If the deal goes through, Bord and his team would face one of the toughest turnaround jobs in English soccer.