Show us the money pleads Owls fan Hobson

Hobson, a lifelong Owls supporter, is willing to link-up with the Chicago-based investors in a proposed takeover move for the League One club.

However, Hobson – whose previous bids to get on the Hillsborough board have been snubbed – has yet to meet any of Club 9's representatives and wants proof that they have the funds needed to take the bid forward.

Commenting on reports that Club 9 will submit an improved offer for the Owls ahead of tomorrow's opening game of the season against Dagenham and Redbridge, he said: "If this is serious, it is time to put up or shut up. The Americans have some good ideas and I like where they are coming from – but it's all about substance now.

"Not only do they have to prove themselves to Sheffield Wednesday but also to me. They know that I am willing to put my own money in and they are going back to their investors to try and get more cash – but I can be a team player for anyone who wants to bring about change at Hillsborough."

The Owls, relegated from the Championship last season, have debts in the region of 25m and had been served with a winding up petition over an unpaid 550,000 tax bill.

Last night, however, it emerged that the club had reached an agreement with HM Customs and Revenue over a payment schedule going forward, a deal which has been assisted by the 1m sale of goalkeeper Lee Grant to Burnley.

The Football League have subsequently removed the transfer embargo which was imposed on the club as a penalty – and this has allowed manager Alan Irvine to complete the signing of goalkeeper Nicky Weaver on a one- year deal.

Hobson, who has been involved in a variety of lucrative deals as a boxing promoter, linked up with Club 9 Sports last month after making contact via telephone calls and emails.

He has yet to meet the company's managing partner, John Prutch, or chief executive officer Jon Pritchett, who have led the high-profile bid to gain control at Hillsborough.

According to sources close to Club 9, the improved offer being drawn up will include an initial payment of 5m, a further 5m on promotion to the Championship, and a 6.5m write down on the club's debt.

They initially offered just 2m for the club in the wake of relegation and also wanted to charge 420,000 a year in management fees. That proposal dashed hopes of a 20m investment and was followed soon after by the resignation of club chairman Lee Strafford.

A spokesman for Wednesday last night refused to comment on the latest twist in the takeover saga but confirmed there had been no fresh offer from Club 9 Sports since dismissing a revised 3m proposal last week.

A local consortium, led by two as yet unnamed local businessmen, is also thought to be close to tabling a bid while Rotherham-based millionaire Spencer Fearn has declared an interest after stepping down as chairman of Scottish Second Division club East Stirlingshire.

Irvine, meanwhile, expressed delight last night after landing Weaver – his ninth new signing of a busy summer.

The former Manchester City goalkeeper, 31, is originally from Killamarsh and a lifelong supporter of the Owls. He made 14 appearances for the club during a loan spell five years ago – at a time when he was rebuilding his career following five operations and the insertion of a dead man's cartilage in his knee.

"I am really pleased to bring Nicky to the club. We needed to bring in an experienced goalkeeper and Nicky fits that bill," said Irvine.

"I had him at Preston last summer and was going to sign him as a No 2 goalkeeper but he is in even better physical condition now.

"The two young goalkeepers we have, Richard O'Donnell and Arron Jameson, have done very well in pre-season but I felt we needed that experience for the back four."

Irvine insists that neither he nor his players have been distracted by the recent headlines surrounding off-the-field issues at Hillsborough.

"It hasn't been a concern because I was always told that it was nothing to worry about. We wondered if it would be necessary to have a meeting but – assessing the players on the training ground and in the dressing room – it never got mentioned apart from the odd joke that footballers make.

"People would be more concerned about a 'winding up petition' but that was dealt with pretty quickly by the club and the bank which put everybody's mind at rest.

"We don't know what a takeover will mean if there is one and, if it happens, we deal with it," he added. "Right now, we can't do anything about it so there was no point worrying about it."

Midfielder Tommy Miller, who has started just 10 league games since joining the club from Ipswich Town last summer, has been ruled out of tomorrow's game with a hamstring problem. Winger Jermaine Johnson (knee) is also doubtful.