Sheffield Wednesday

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Amid reports of two interested parties potentially merging to try and buy Sheffield Wednesday, it begs the question — why would that be necessary?

If the two groups, reportedly billionaire John McEvoy and members of the Storch family, have the financial clout typically required to buy a club of Wednesday's size, why would they need to come together?

The answer is probably down to the sheer amount of investment needed to get the Owls to a place, on and off the pitch, where ambitious owners would want to be.

The infrastructure work required alone is substantial. A fortune will need to be spent on Hillsborough and the training ground to match the facilities enjoyed by Championship peers.

If you want a speculative figure, you could be looking at more than £100m to get it right.

Although big money is available through TV rights in the Premier League, the reality of life outside of the top-flight is you're going to be a loss-making business.

Any prospective owner of Wednesday is not buying a club that is on the doorstep of the top-flight, that could take seasons. Therefore, they'll be looking at a hefty loss each year. Possibly around £10m a season.

Investment in the squad would be necessary over a period of time. Then, even if you get to the Premier League, a distant dream for any buyer at the moment, you'd need to spend huge sums even with the TV money coming in.

A major financial burden is required to drive this club forwards, in a way that might not be necessary at others with better infrastructure.

Wednesday, 27 points adrift of safety, are also inevitably going to be in League One next season - with limited playing assets given what's happened to the squad over the past six months.

Wealthy owners merging together would be a way to pool resources to tackle these challenges.

It's worth noting that the 'one owner who buys the club' model isn't as common as some might think. Birmingham City and Ipswich Town are good examples of clubs with multiple investors.

Even at the highest level, Jim Ratcliffe bought a stake in Manchester United and runs the football operations at Old Trafford, yet the Glazer family remain majority owners. And Chelsea are owned by a consortium led by a a private equity firm.

It should be noted this potential merger would result in just one interested group.

As noted in a statement by administrator Kris Wigfield on Friday, the club is still narrowing the field to one preferred bidder and discussions are ongoing.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles could return against Blackburn on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boss Henrik Pedersen confirmed on Thursday that Charles could be back within "maybe 48 hours, 24 hours".

The Northern Ireland international has been out with a shoulder injury but did play a full 90 minutes for an Owls XI in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup on Wednesday.

"I'm really pleased with what he did [on Wednesday]," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I'm looking forward to when Pierce is back in the team. He has so much to give, with his personality and also as a goalkeeper."

Defender Max Lowe might also make the squad after missing the loss to Preston North End last time out.

Nathaniel Chalobah returned to training this week, while midfielder George Brown is due to return to training "not next week but the week after," according to Pedersen.

Pedersen also confirmed that the Owls and Manchester United have been discussing left-back Harry Amass' future ahead of the January transfer window. Amass is on loan from the Premier League club.

Listen to the full interview with Pedersen and more Sheffield Wednesday content on BBC Sounds.

Blackburn Rovers will look to let their frustrations from their 1-1 draw to Ipswich Town on Tuesday go as they host basement dwellers Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Rovers boss Valerien Ismael was vocal about his disappointment in refereeing decisions that did not go their way during their controversial replay against the Tractor Boys that saw them succumb to a third successive winless game.

But now they face a side who have been on a much longer run without a win (12) and so deep into the relegation battle the hope of getting out is sparse - but with nothing left to lose, could the Owls be up for causing more turmoil at Ewood Park?

• Blackburn have won just one of their last six league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D2 L3), beating them 1-0 at Hillsborough in December 2024.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost just two of their last nine away league games against Blackburn (W3 D4), with those defeats coming consecutively in December 2018 and November 2019.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last four league games, their second such run already this season. They last lost more consecutively in February/March 2021 (7).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their last 12 league games (D4 L8), last having a longer run between August and October 2023 (13).

• Barry Bannan either scored or assisted a goal in each of his first four league games for Sheffield Wednesday against Blackburn (1 goal, 4 assists). However, since then he's failed to score or assist in six games against Rovers.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday fans hoping for greater clarity on their situation got it on Monday - and it's good news.

We now know, per an EFL statement, that Sheffield Wednesday will be deducted a further six points this season for multiple breaches of regulations. It's also been confirmed the EFL are not seeking any further points deductions in the future.

Next season, the Owls will begin on zero points. A huge sigh of relief no doubt for fans and the prospective new owners, whoever they may be.

It gets better though. Despite originally receiving information suggesting otherwise, we now understand the fee restriction that had originally been placed on the Owls through until the summer transfer window of 2027 will end in January 2026.

This is major news. It means the new owners can plot an immediate transfer plan next summer to recover the club from League One (an inevitability given they're now on -10 points and 27 from safety).

Further to this, we understand a bidder was shown around Hillsborough on Monday. We believe there are competing bidders for the club that are above the '25p in the pound' threshold that will prevent the club from facing any penalties once they exit administration.

This has been a tumultuous period for Sheffield Wednesday but all in all, the news will be welcomed by supporters. The new owners will get a clean slate to try to turn the fortunes of the club around.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said that Nathan Redmond, who signed a short-term deal at the club on Thursday, could extend his stay beyond January if all goes well between the forward and the Championship club.

"Nathan has trained with us now for two weeks and he has done really well," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We have searched for a centre-back and six, eight and an offensive player. Nathan has done it really well, so I hope he can add something to our offensive qualities."

The former Norwich City and Southampton winger will be available for selection against Preston North End this weekend but is not ready to start.

"I don't think he's at this level right now but maybe he can play 20-30 minutes and then grow from here," Pedersen said.

"We have spoken with him and then it was the environment we spoke about from the beginning that we will make this a short-term so that we can see his body, where he is. He could also get a feeling for us and hopefully we can extend when we've come so far."

"He's a fantastic guy, a strong personality and he's fantastic for the boys. He helped everywhere where he can and he coached the boys on the pitch, and I think from the leader perspective he'll be a big add-on to the team. Also really looking forward to the football perspective.

"It's a big add to the squad that we have a guy of his quality, and he has also shown his quality in the training. But of course he needs more training and he needs to get game practice again, and I think the club can increase a lot in the short term."

You can listen to more from Henrik Pedersen on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Sheffield Wednesday's quest to return to a positive points tally continues as they welcome Preston to Hillsborough on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Owls remain bottom on -4 points after their late 1-0 defeat at Millwall on Wednesday, a third straight loss which extended their winless run to 11 Championship games, during which Henrik Pedersen's men have claimed just four points.

North End go into the weekend sat sixth, in the final play-off spot, but winless in three after being pegged back in a 1-1 draw at Watford on Tuesday night.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their past nine league games against Preston North End (D2 L5), with both wins coming by a 1-0 scoreline (January 2021, December 2023).

• Having lost five consecutive away league games against Sheffield Wednesday between March 2012 and December 2018, Preston North End have since lost on just one of their past four visits to Hillsborough (W2 D1).

• Sheffield Wednesday haven't won any of their previous 10 league games at Hillsborough (D3 L7), their longest run since October 2020; only in August 1975 (13), August 1968 (11) and March 1955 (11) have they suffered longer such streaks in the Football League.

• Preston are unbeaten in their past three away league games (W1 D2); they last enjoyed a longer run in March 2024 (4).

• Preston's Daniel Jebbison has five goal involvements across his past six league games (3 goals, 2 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen felt his side showed the right response in their hard-fought 1-0 loss at Millwall after Sunday's derby humiliation against Sheffield United.

Pedersen was pleased with his players' attitude and they pushed promotion-chasing Millwall all the way, hitting the woodwork through Charlie McNeill and Jamal Lowe.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "The boys are back again. We saw our boys with a big, big heart, fantastic mentality and a good togetherness. We worked really hard against a very good and strong opponent.

"We had big chances at important moments. We have to be better to score when we get the chances and we are working on it, but the fundamentals to win football games are a top heart and top togetherness, and the boys showed that in a really good way.

"When we performed like that [Sunday] of course we spoke about it, we had to be honest about it. We had a good meeting and the reaction was good."

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a difficult past few months for Sheffield United fans but winning the Steel City derby was something to enjoy. A big win in their bitter rivals' backyard.

Supporters had about 48 hours to properly soak it in.

Then a controversial report emerged. United's owners, COH, had supposedly contacted Sheffield Wednesday's administrators to make an enquiry.

It's an explosive story, leaving everyone to wonder if COH were checking in on a potential merger plan. Some form of comment was necessary from a group who have not done a single press conference since taking over.

A club address emerged a day later.

The co-owners Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy spoke about the disappointing start to the season. They declared they still aimed to one day get back in the Premier League.

There was a clichéd platitude - "this journey is a marathon, not a sprint" - and a call to "focus all of our energy on supporting Chris (Wilder) and the team".

There was, of course, one glaring omission. There was no denial of the story. Nothing to say the report on contacting Wednesday's administrators was untrue.

I've done a bit of digging and my understanding is there's truth to the original report of contact being made, although it's unclear precisely what the motivations were.

It begs the question, what on earth were they thinking?

What possible logical reason would there be to make contact? Did they think a merger was possible? Anyone in this city will tell you that if you think a merger is an option, you have absolutely no grasp of Sheffield football.

Let's reflect on the last few months of COH's first year of ownership.

They moved Wilder out of the club, appointed Ruben Selles and watched a promotion favourite drop into the Championship's bottom three.

Red faced, they hastily brought Wilder back to rescue things and, now, this story.

COH inherited a healthy club that has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years. They had/have a serial winner in charge of the football side of things in Wilder. There are highly competent people working behind the scenes.

All they needed to do was offer support and leadership. They've done the opposite and created a situation where fans are rightly wondering if they 'get' their club or English football in general.

If there was no enquiry and the reports and chatter are incorrect - say so. If not, and it's all true, it needs to be explained.

And after that explanation, any thought of a merger - if that was the reason for the enquiry - should be consigned to the rubbish bin of bad ideas forever.

Millwall will look to end their four match winless streak as they host basement side Sheffield Wednesday in the midweek.

The Lions' past four league games have seen two draws and two losses to put them just outside the top six on goal difference.

On Wednesday (19:45 BST), the side may have the opportunity to return to the play-off spots and face an Owls side that have not claimed a win since September.

• Millwall have lost just one of their last nine league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D4), keeping six clean sheets in that run.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost four of their last six away league games against Millwall, with the exceptions being a 0-0 draw in February 2019 and a 2-0 win in February 2024.

• Millwall lost three of their first four home league games this season (W1), scoring just once and conceding nine. The Lions are now unbeaten in their last four at home (W3 D1), scoring seven goals and conceding just once.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their last 11 away league games (D6 L4), beating Portsmouth 2-0 in September. However, the Owls have earned more points away from home (6) than they have at Hillsborough so far this season.

• Sheffield Wednesday's Jamal Lowe has scored three goals in his last five league starts against Millwall, with all of three of these coming at the Den.