Exclusive: Rivals Poised to Strike if James Bord’s Sheffield Wednesday Takeover Stalls

Rivals to James Bord, the professional poker player hoping to complete a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, have started finessing their proposals for the stricken Championship club after predicting he will struggle to convince either the English Football League or newly established independent regulator to green-light his purchase, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

Bord, who heads a diverse consortium of investors prepared to back his attempt, was granted preferred bidder status by The Owls' administrators nearly a month-and-a-half ago after beating off competition from Mike Ashley and Dave Richards.

But the American’s drive to become owner is growing increasingly protracted, with a number of sources last night insisting the delays are linked with his involvement with cryptocurrency and gambling rather than the forensic analysis being undertaken by the sport’s governing body. 

And that has prompted at least three former suitors, who despite being interested in purchasing Wednesday refused to meet Begbies Traynor’s £30m asking price, to begin dusting off the plans they tabled during the build-up to Christmas before being outmanoeuvred by Bord and his associates.

One has told SportsBoom that he is ready to hand over between £20m-£25m in exchange for Wednesday but believes it would be financially reckless to go any higher due to the huge investment they require not only in playing staff but also off-the-pitch infrastructure.

Slow Going 

In a show of good faith, but also a move designed to prove that he can fund The Owls across the short to medium term, Bord has already been covering some of the debts they have incurred since financially imploding under Dejphon Chansiri. 

The Thai, who repeatedly failed to pay wages or meet his obligations to other clubs, has now been barred from being either an owner or director of an EFL member for a period of three years.

However, the points deductions imposed on Wednesday as a result of his mismanagement meant Henrik Pedersen’s side were officially relegated from the Championship when they were beaten 2-1 by neighbours Sheffield United on Sunday. 

The Dane, whose efforts to keep a threadbare squad competitive have won him the respect of Blades' boss Chris Wilder, admitted it is imperative The Owls can begin painting a positive vision for the future in order to boost the spirits of their fans following that historic loss.

Nevertheless, there are growing suspicions that some of those tasked with overseeing the running of the game nationwide are nervous about handing Bord the keys to Hillsborough despite his interest in Scottish outfit Dunfermiline.

It is for that reason that eyebrows were raised, among many senior staff behind the scenes, that BT have told Wednesday’s recruitment chief that his services will no longer be required beyond the imminent expiry of his contract as Bord plans to resurrect the AI-led approach he unsuccessfully employed whilst advising United’s owners on transfer policy earlier this season.

Wilder, who returned for a third spell in charge of United as Bord’s influence there dwindled, pointedly swerved questions on the subject after condemning The Owls to the third tier.