Two American groups interested in acquiring Sheffield Wednesday have joined forces to submit a joint bid, according to Daily Mail Sport.
Billionaire John McEvoy has partnered with members of the Storch family—previously linked to a potential move for Plymouth Argyle—after each had submitted separate offers earlier.
Another new bid from an unnamed party has also emerged, keeping the takeover race at Hillsborough very much alive. Administrators had initially hoped to announce a preferred bidder by Friday but have extended the timeline.
McEvoy has a range of business interests, including stakes in the MLB’s Colorado Rockies and the NHL’s Nashville Predators, and has been previously linked with Coventry City.
It’s understood that Owls fan Jon McClure, frontman of rock band Reverend and the Makers, was consulted by McEvoy regarding the club. McEvoy holds a minority stake in Various Records, the label McClure’s band is signed to. Little is known about the Storch family, and reports suggesting a consortium with Gareth Bale for Argyle did not result in a bid.
Sheffield Wednesday, facing relegation to League One after two points deductions, went up for sale following their entry into administration last month under the troubled ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri.
Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley also submitted an initial bid but is reportedly yet to follow up with an improved offer.
Joint administrator Kris Wigfield of Begbies Traynor said: “As outlined previously, the Administrators set a target for naming a preferred bidder by today. That goal was designed to create momentum, and it achieved exactly that. We have received a number of strong, credible offers.
That interest is extremely positive for the future of Sheffield Wednesday. For various reasons, responsibly narrowing the field to one preferred bidder today has not proven possible.”
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