Since the Trust statement at the start of January, following the Administrators’ nomination of their preferred bidder for Sheffield Wednesday, we have been extremely busy engaging with all relevant stakeholders involved in the regulatory process.
Over recent weeks, we have recognised that the Administrators’ legal duty is to the club’s creditors, and the EFL’s duty is to the integrity of the League. The Trust is therefore the primary body in this process, speaking up for the long-term interests of Sheffield Wednesday and its supporters.
Our approach is to engage constructively with the regulatory process while being honest about its limitations. There is currently no formal or structural role for supporters’ voices within this process, so the Trust is doing everything it can to ensure the long-term interests of supporters are heard wherever possible. Much of our work in this area is necessarily confidential, but we want to reassure supporters that we are using the democratic mandate given to us by our members to speak up for the future of the club at every opportunity.
Given our recent history, the Owners’ and Directors’ Test and wider regulatory assessments must be applied thoroughly and properly. The EFL has previously advised us that a straightforward Owners’ and Directors’ Test can take 6–8 weeks, and we understand that a consortium-led bid can take longer. With this process having begun in January, it is therefore realistic not to expect any further announcements until spring.
But like all Wednesday fans, we are impatient to understand the future ownership of our club. While it is essential that all regulatory tests are applied fully and fairly, it is also important to recognise that these tests are designed to assess eligibility, not suitability. Passing the Owners’ and Directors’ Test does not, in itself, guarantee that a prospective owner is right for Sheffield Wednesday. For that reason, we believe supporters are entitled to hear directly from bidders about their ownership philosophy, how they intend to fund the club sustainably, their approach to governance and supporter engagement, and their view of their role as custodians of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. These are matters of transparency and principle; they should not be hidden behind a veil of confidentiality until a bid is complete. Full communication of plans will have no effect on the credibility or due process of the sale. It is the least our incredible fanbase deserves after its heroic efforts to save our club from its last owner.
Away from the ownership process, the Trust continues to deliver important work for supporters and the wider club community. Through our sponsorship agreement with the club, we have delivered a process to select ten matchday mascots, the first of which took place at the Hull match on Boxing Day. The nominations we received were all deserving, and many were genuinely moving. We are also in the process of establishing a Youth Forum as part of the Trust.
Over the last few days we have been planning activities to thank Wrexham supporters and the club this Saturday for their support earlier in the season. We continue to liaise with stakeholders regarding matchday accessibility issues at Hillsborough, and we are working with Sheffield City Council to help fund repairs to the Hillsborough Disaster Memorial at the bottom of Wadsley Lane.
Looking ahead, we are making plans to hold the Trust AGM in May. This is an important opportunity for members to shape the future of the Trust, whether by standing for election as a Trust Director or by voting for nominated candidates. To participate, you must be a paid-up Trust member in advance of the meeting. Membership costs £10 and you can join at www.swfctrust.co.uk.
We will continue to work behind the scenes with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the process to approve the next owner of Sheffield Wednesday is fair, thorough and robust. Where possible, we will update our members and the wider fan base as and when there is meaningful news to report.
WAWAW