Parker blasts time-wasters in Owls fiasco

Parker spoke out after the Owls were granted another 28 days by the High Court yesterday to secure new investment and avoid administration.

The League One club had been facing a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs for 600,000 – a figure which the court was told had subsquently risen to 1.4m. The judge said the club was trading insolvently but granted the adjournment because of exceptional circumstances.

During the last two years, the Owls have been involved in highly publicised takeover talks with a number of potential investors including the American firm Club 9 Sports, businessman Geoff Sheard, and Certified Oilfield Rentals who broke a promise to provide 2m of immediate funding.

Now the Owls are in talks with just four serious bidders: Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric, former Owls director Mick Wright, Rotherham businessman Spencer Fearn and a mystery fourth party with links to the Middle East.

Parker has urged the current crop to put up or shut up as the clock ticks towards the next High Court date on December 1 over an unpaid 300,000 VAT bill. Owls lawyers will ask for that case to be adjourned to December 15 too.

"I am very relieved but, more importantly, I am angry because this club should not be where it is today," said Parker. "Do not believe 28 days, the real deadline is still December 1 when the extra petition comes on board. The reason I am angry is because there are people out there who go to the media when they should not. There are people out there who say they have money when they do not.

"But the one glimmer of hope that I can give Sheffield Wednesday fans and the community that it serves is that I know there are other people out there who understand how important the club is – not just to the fans but the community it serves, and all the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The club is part of the fabric of the community," he added.

"It is now time for potential investors to step forward in private and do a deal with the bank. The bottom line is that any investor will not get a better deal by the club going into administration."

The Co-Operative Bank, the club's biggest creditors, are owed 23m and also welcomed yesterday's decision. If the court had ruled in favour of the winding-up petition, the bank was set to put the club in administration which would have resulted in an immediate deduction of 10 points from the Football League and sparked the sale of the club's prize assets.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had also stepped in to try and save the Owls ahead of yesterday's court case and has warned there is still plenty of work to do.

Clegg, the MP for Sheffield Hallam, said: "Today's adjournment is welcome news for Sheffield Wednesday and will hopefully give the club the time it needs to attract the required investment. It is, however, only a stay of execution and much more needs to be done to safeguard the long-term future of this wonderful football club."

Clegg has been heavily involved in talks with the the Co-Operative Bank and will continue to offer his support.

"I have been in regular contact with both the club and the bank over the last few days and I know how hard everyone is working to find a way forward," he said. "I will continue to help all parties in any way I can to find a workable solution to the club's plight. I know how much Sheffield Wednesday means to the fans and the city itself and a successful long-term solution must now be found."

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is a lifelong Owls supporter and the club's 40,000 capacity stadium is located within his Brightside and Hillsborough consitituency.

"Like every other fan, I am naturally pleased that the club has not been placed into administration but, like all those who care about the future of the club, I am desperately keen that we should not end up in the same position in four weeks' time," he said.

"It is vital that those with a genuine interest in investing in the club should come to terms for taking over Sheffield Wednesday FC as quickly as possible – not only to resolve the immediate crisis, but to invest in a stable future for a club which should be aiming for promotion to the Premier League within three seasons.

"What the club needs is certainty and a genuinely fresh start," he added. "It is vital that all of us, as fans, continue to give the manager and players the backing they need to keep in contention for promotion; and encouragement to those who continue to express an interest in acquiring the club in order to draw this prolonged and damaging saga to a satisfactory conclusion. The fans deserve no less and nor does the city of Sheffield – including non-supporters who know that this spectacle is no good for the image of our city, as well as the reputation of the club."

Hillary Stonefrost, who represented the bank in court, supported the club's application for a two week adjournment but admitted the bank would appoint administrators if considered appropriate.

The Owls' next game is away at Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.