‘I’ve spoken to them’ – Dejphon Chansiri to agree Sheffield Wednesday takeover soon
Dejphon Chansiri is likely to agree a Sheffield Wednesday takeover before the independent regulator is forced to take action.
Chansiri is under pressure to sell the Owls following the ongoing financial concerns at Hillsborough.
Finance expert Dan Plumley told Football Insider Sheffield Wednesday are only worth around £70million, but Chansiri is understood to be looking for around £100million.
The Athletic reported on 12 August The Labour Party is fast-tracking secondary legislation to ensure the powers of the new independent football regulator (IFR) will be switched on by November.
It said the move will increase pressure on under-fire owners such as Chansiri to sell Sheffield Wednesday before the regulator becomes legally established, with a new bill allowing owners to be stripped of their rights to run clubs.
Sheffield Wednesday verdict shared after government latest
This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen CEO.
Former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has been linked with a Sheffield Wednesday takeover alongside football financier Keith Harris.
The American billionaire owns majority stakes in French club Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek through Eagle Football Holdings.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness said: “Well, I know David Kogan, who is the new independent regulator, and I did actually speak a couple of times to the Select Committee hearing about the regulator, so I’ve got some experience and knowledge about it.
“The problem is, will it really be able to impact things like the Sheffield Wednesday situation when the law is still the law and you can’t take people’s property away until something else happens that they’ve done illegal?
“I think that it won’t come to that. I think somebody will come in and do a deal with Chansiri, and it’ll get done before the regulator has to get involved.
“I still wonder if the regulator has really got the teeth to actually do something. I’m not a fan of the regulator. Let me say again about David Kogan, he is superb.
“He’s a great operator and to have him in as the regulator makes it more attractive and he’s a very bright good guy, so I’ve got nothing against him, but the regulator position itself is one that I have concern about.
“I don’t think we need football regulation. I think it worries me that it might change the regulator with the government, so say the Conservatives got in at the next election, would the football regulator become conservative and more free market?
“You don’t want the football regulator to be political, and that’s where my concern is about the position itself, not necessarily who it is.”
Sheffield Wednesday snub Pierce Charles offers
In terms of transfer activity, Sheffield Wednesday have snubbed offers for Pierce Charles from West Ham and Rangers.
The 20-year-old has been the subject of bids in excess of £1million, but neither club is understood to have received a response from the Owls.
The goalkeeper, who started in each of the Championship side’s opening three games this season, is now set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury.
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