Simon Jordan responds to Mike Ashley’s attempt to buy Sheffield Wednesday

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has shared his thoughts on the ongoing takeover situation at Sheffield Wednesday, particularly regarding Mike Ashley’s attempt to purchase the club.

Ashley recently submitted a bid to acquire the financially troubled Owls, who are currently in administration. However, reports suggest that his offer was significantly lower than rival proposals, which has placed him behind other potential buyers in the race for control of the South Yorkshire club.

It is understood that Ashley’s proposal is worth around £10 million, a figure that has been described as considerably smaller than the competing bids currently being considered.

Because of this, American businessman David Storch is now widely viewed as the leading candidate to take ownership of Sheffield Wednesday.

Administrators continue search for a preferred bidder

Sheffield Wednesday’s administrators, Begbies Traynor, are responsible for managing the process of finding a suitable new owner for the club.

The administrators must now determine which bidder will become their preferred option following the collapse of a previous takeover attempt.

James Bord had earlier been considered the frontrunner to purchase the club, but his deal ultimately fell apart, forcing the administrators to restart the search for a buyer.

With multiple interested parties involved, Begbies Traynor are expected to reach a decision about the next preferred bidder soon.

If negotiations progress quickly, a new frontrunner could be officially identified before the end of the current week.

On-field struggles overshadowed by off-field crisis

While the club’s ownership situation remains uncertain, Sheffield Wednesday have continued to endure a miserable run of results on the pitch.

Their most recent defeat came against Derby County on Saturday, extending their losing streak to 14 matches across all competitions.

Despite the poor performances, results on the field have become less significant in the broader context of the club’s problems.

Relegation has already been confirmed, meaning the focus has shifted almost entirely toward resolving the ownership situation and stabilising the club ahead of next season.

Sheffield Wednesday are now preparing for life in League One during the 2026–27 campaign, making the appointment of a new owner an urgent priority.

Simon Jordan backs Ashley’s approach to the takeover process

Although Mike Ashley’s bid may currently trail other offers financially, Simon Jordan believes the former Newcastle United owner is approaching the situation in the correct manner.

Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday, Jordan suggested that Ashley is simply following his own established business strategy when pursuing the takeover.

According to Jordan, Ashley is known for conducting business on his own terms rather than being drawn into aggressive bidding battles.

Jordan explained that Ashley’s approach essentially involves placing a firm offer on the table and waiting to see whether it is accepted rather than engaging in competitive bidding wars with other interested parties.

He believes this method reflects the mindset of an experienced businessman who prefers to remain disciplined rather than becoming emotionally involved in negotiations.

Jordan criticises previous £50 million bid

During his remarks, Jordan also referenced an earlier bid in the takeover process that he described as unrealistic.

He pointed out that administrators had previously received a £50 million offer that ultimately failed to materialise.

Jordan characterised that proposal as “absurd,” suggesting that it was never realistically going to be completed.

Despite the collapse of that bid, Jordan noted that the administrators benefited financially because they were able to secure a 10 percent deposit as part of the process.

That deposit reportedly helped provide the administrators with additional funds to keep the club operating during its difficult financial period.

Jordan used the example to highlight why Ashley might prefer not to become involved in bidding contests that could escalate prices beyond reasonable levels.

Ashley determined to follow his own strategy

Jordan emphasised that Ashley is likely to continue pursuing the takeover only on his own terms.

Rather than allowing external pressure to influence his decisions, the businessman is expected to stick to the strategy he believes is most sensible.

Jordan argued that any potential buyer should be free to proceed at their own pace without being forced into rushed negotiations.

From his perspective, Ashley’s calm and patient approach reflects the behaviour of a disciplined purchaser who understands the value of maintaining control during negotiations.

He suggested that this kind of strategy is often the most effective way to secure a deal without overpaying.

Previous bidder James Bord exits the race

Before the current round of bids emerged, businessman James Bord had been widely regarded as the leading candidate to take over Sheffield Wednesday.

During the period when he held preferred bidder status, Bord reportedly spent more than £4 million covering the club’s ongoing financial losses.

However, Bord ultimately decided to withdraw from the process after concluding that his offer exceeded the club’s true value.

His departure reopened the bidding process and created an opportunity for other interested investors to step forward with their own proposals.

The collapse of Bord’s deal has prolonged the uncertainty surrounding the club’s future.

Regulatory checks will be required for any new owner

Once a preferred bidder is selected, the proposed takeover will still need to pass several regulatory hurdles before it can be completed.

The English Football League will require the potential new owner to undergo its Owners’ and Directors’ Test, which is designed to ensure that prospective club owners meet the league’s financial and ethical standards.

In addition, the Independent Football Regulator is expected to gain the authority to approve football club takeovers by May.

This means that future transactions within English football could face even greater scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

For Sheffield Wednesday, the approval process will be a crucial step before any new ownership arrangement can become official.

Financial obligations remain a major challenge

One of the key conditions attached to Sheffield Wednesday’s administration involves repaying the club’s creditors.

To avoid receiving a 15-point deduction next season, the new owners will need to settle the club’s debts by paying creditors 25 pence for every pound owed.

Failure to meet that requirement would trigger a significant points penalty at the start of the next campaign.

Given the competitive nature of League One, such a deduction could severely hinder the club’s chances of mounting a promotion challenge.

Points deduction already played major role in relegation

Sheffield Wednesday’s current season has already been heavily affected by disciplinary penalties.

The club received an 18-point deduction earlier in the campaign, which contributed significantly to their relegation from the Championship.

The drop was confirmed in February after Wednesday suffered a defeat against local rivals Sheffield United.

That loss effectively sealed their fate and confirmed that they would be playing in League One next season.

The combination of financial turmoil and poor results has made this one of the most difficult seasons in the club’s recent history.

Storch’s bid may include acceptance of future penalty

Reports from journalist Alan Nixon indicate that David Storch’s consortium may be prepared to accept a points deduction next season if their takeover is successful.

According to those claims, Storch’s group would be willing to begin the next campaign with a 15-point penalty rather than immediately paying the required amount to creditors.

Such an approach could allow the takeover to proceed more quickly, although it would create additional challenges for the team on the pitch.

Starting a League One season with a significant points deficit would make the task of competing for promotion far more difficult.

Ashley’s investment plans could transform the club

One reason many supporters favour Mike Ashley as a potential owner is his reported willingness to invest heavily in Sheffield Wednesday.

Reports suggest that Ashley could commit as much as £100 million toward improving the club’s infrastructure and general operations if he successfully acquires the Owls.

That level of financial backing could dramatically transform the club’s facilities and help strengthen the squad over time.

Because of this possibility, some fans may feel disappointed that Ashley’s bid has been surpassed by other offers.

Supporters anxious about future under new ownership

The uncertainty surrounding the takeover process has naturally created anxiety among Sheffield Wednesday supporters.

If David Storch ultimately becomes the club’s next owner, fans may worry about the potential consequences of starting the season with a points deduction.

After enduring a difficult year already, the prospect of another penalty could make supporters fearful of further struggles.

Beginning the campaign at a disadvantage could leave the club at risk of another relegation battle.

Difficult season has already caused major upheaval

The 2025–26 season has been extremely painful for the Wednesday fanbase.

Former owner Dejphon Chansiri faced widespread criticism for financial mismanagement that ultimately pushed the club into administration.

The resulting instability contributed heavily to the team’s decline on the field and their eventual relegation from the Championship.

In addition to those challenges, several key players have departed Hillsborough in recent months, further weakening the squad.

Fear of further relegation if penalties are imposed

Should Sheffield Wednesday begin next season with another points deduction, the club could find itself facing an uphill struggle from the very beginning.

In a competitive League One division, even a modest penalty can have serious consequences.

A deduction of 15 points would place the team near the bottom of the table before a ball has even been kicked.

For a club already dealing with financial uncertainty and squad rebuilding, such a disadvantage could raise the frightening possibility of another relegation.

If that were to happen, Wednesday could find themselves dropping into League Two, a scenario that many supporters are desperate to avoid.