David Storch is heading to Sheffield as he looks to bring to an end the saga that has ruined Sheffield Wednesday's season right on his self-imposed deadline.

When Storch emerged as the Owls’ second preferred bidder in March, he set a soft deadline of May 1 to complete a takeover of the beleaguered Championship club.

Wednesday have been in crisis since it became clear last summer owner Dejphon Chansiri was running out of money and/or interest to prop up the club he owned for a decade. It took him until October to accept defeat and put the club into administration

Since then, Wednesday have suffered the earliest relegation in English league history. Fail to win their final league game, at home to West Bromwich Albion, and they will be the first team to end the season with a minus points tally, and go a whole campaign without winning at home.

Despite that, Saturday's match is a sell-out.

Storch has emphasised the importance of fans to his plan but capitalising on the feel-good factor by announcing the takeover beforehand is just a bonus.

Storch said the need to plan for next season's League One campaign was the main reason for wanting his takeover signed off by Friday, but that it is also when responsibility for the Football League's owner's and director's test passes from them to football's new independent regulator.

The regulator has been involved in the League's vetting, but even so a handover would stretch out a process that has taken far longer than expected.

OWNER-IN-WAITING: David Storch watches Sheffield Wednesday from the Hillsborough director's box (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — OWNER-IN-WAITING: David Storch watches Sheffield Wednesday from the Hillsborough director's box (Image: Steve Ellis)

On Christmas Eve James Bord's Short Circuit consortium – not Storch's Arise – was chosen as the preferred bidder by the club's administrators. But Bord pulled out of a deal valued at £47.8m in February, at which point Storch came in with a new offer.

A tweet by Storch late on Thursday added to the sense that the takeover is on course.

Wednesday's final home game of the season has a "Honolulu" theme, riding on the back of a terrace chant to encourage supporters to wear Hawaiian gear.

When Mayor of Honolulu Rick Blangiardi commented: “ I want to send my best wishes to all the Sheffield Wednesday fans ahead of your end-of-season celebration at Hillsborough”, Storch replied: “On my way up to Sheffield... the only place I'd rather be than Honolulu."