Mandaric will stand aside if ‘right person’ tries to buy Owls

Mandaric, however, has confirmed his willingness to sell the club should the right offer be put on the table.

Sybil Danning, a multi-millionairess, and her husband Horst Lasse are looking to invest in an English football club and the Owls – who are now debt free and pushing for promotion to the Championship – figure high on the couple’s wish list.

Ms Danning, now 64, starred in nearly 50 movies. In more recent years, she has moved into film production and also invested in a German ice hockey club.

“We have been looking into buying an English team with a strong fan base and great potential,” she said.

“Sheffield Wednesday matches those ideals.

“It is one of the most famous names in English football and, even though it has suffered in the last few years, we believe we can give it the energy needed to get to the Premier League.

“We have been studying this for the past month. If negotiations go well, we hope to conclude an agreement to buy the club.”

The news broke yesterday and was greeted with surprise at Hillsborough. Mandaric, who rescued the Owls from the brink of administration a year ago, duly released a statement to supporters denying any contact with Danning but admitting he was ‘flattered’ by her interest.

“I have always been honest and transparent and I can say I have never met or spoken to the people named in this article,” he said.

“I was as surprised as everybody else to see the story but I cannot control what is written or said in the media.

“What I am never surprised about is the fact that a fantastic club such as ours attracts media attention such as this. We are heading in the right direction on the pitch as our improved position in the league indicates and off the field, we have a strong, football-based infrastructure and organisation.

“The progress we have made in such a short space of time has taken a lot of hard work and is there for everyone to see.

“Of course I am flattered because this is not the first story of its kind and I am sure it will not be the last,” he added.

“Let me tell you that I am 100 per cent committed to Sheffield Wednesday but if the right person or persons come along who can take this club further forward, I would stand aside.

“I have done that at my previous clubs (Portsmouth and Leicester City) and I would do the same here. One thing is for sure, when my time does come to step aside at Sheffield Wednesday, I will leave this club in much better shape than when I came here last December.”

Mandaric, now 73, concluded by stressing that his ‘focus and heart’ would stay with the Owls until a time when he decided to sell. He also stressed that any decisions would be made in the best interests of the club.

The Owls’ first-round FA Cup tie at Morecambe has been selected for live coverage by ESPN. The game will kick off at 3.15pm on Sunday, November 13.