Sheffield Wednesday stress extensive vetting of 'mystery' preferred bidder James Bord who has made himself known
Sheffield Wednesday have stressed they cannot name the preferred bidder to buy the club even though James Bord has outed himself, but says he was subject to "extensive due diligence over a period of weeks" before putting him forward for the Football League's own checks.
The poker player is a controversial choice because of his involvement in 2025 with Sheffield United, where the data-led approach he has proposed at Hillsborough led to some bad signings as the Blades missed out on automatic promotion in the first half of the year, then found themselves fighting relegation after losing the Championship play-off final.
He emerged after a process which started when the Owls went into administration on October 24. In a statement that said little else, joint administrator Kris Wigfield was keen to point out the careful vetting done in that time.
"This position (of Bord's consortium gaining preferred bidder status) was reached only after carrying out extensive due diligence over a period of weeks on the sources and proof of funds supporting the offer, and others, as required by insolvency law and football regulations."
The Football League (EFL) have their own owners and director's test Bord will have to go through and will be acutely aware of the need to get it right, with the embarrassment of Dejphon Chansiri's mismanagement – having passed their then weaker test in 2015 – still fresh, and the football regulator's own "fit and proper person's test" now online for existing owners who attract their attention.
Wigfield has led attempts to improve communication with supporters during the administration, but he stressed on Friday: "We cannot jeopardise that process by breaching EFL rules or legal agreements with prospective buyers, or by disclosing details prematurely before regulatory approval has been completed.
"Once the EFL has concluded its review and approval process, and the sale is able to progress, we will make a formal announcement with further detail at the appropriate time."