WEDNESDAY fans are being urged not to miss their chance of influencing a ballot that could help to decide the Owls' future.
The poll of Wednesdayite members on Geoff Sheard's offer for the group's 10 per cent stake in the club closes tonight after a special meeting of members at the Niagara Club, Wadsley Bridge (7.30pm).
Members have already been voting by post and on line.
Any yet to vote have a last chance today, either on line or at the meeting.
"We have had a good response, but the more the merrier, and we are striving to get up towards a 100 per cent response to the ballot," said chairman Darryl Keys.
"We are urging all eligible members to cast their votes. We are also hoping for a really good turnout at the meeting."
On-line voting will be open until midnight.
Wednesdayite officials will be up until the early hours of the morning, checking returns and preparing an announcement about the result. Around 1,000 fans are eligible to vote.
The organisation's board are recommending that the 20p-a-share offer from takeover front man Sheard be accepted, with the proviso that he meets four conditions, including legal proof of funds.
There are actually two resolutions in the ballot.
As Wednesdayite's own rules bar a sale of their 5,037,017 shares, members are having to vote first on whether or not to amend this rule so that it says members can decide to part to with the shares in principle. For the rule to be changed, 75 per cent of voters have to say yes.
The other issue is a verdict purely on Sheard's offer, and this requires a simple majority.
The Wednesdayite board want members to vote yes in each case.
The group are giving no indication as to how voting has gone so far.
Keys said it was hoped that Sheard would attend the meeting. "He has not been able to commit so far, in case he is required elsewhere (in connection with the takeover)," he said.
"I have spoken to him. He said he is making very good progress. He was very relaxed, very bullish."
Sheard is also trying to buy the 10 per cent blocs held by Keith Addy and Geoff Hulley, after earlier lining up a deal with Dave Allen, as he bids to take control at Hillsborough, backed by a Swiss trust.
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The full article contains 452 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.