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Owls: US firm plans global player hunt for Wednesday
CLUB 9 Sports say they will use a worldwide network to bring future stars to Hillsborough if they take control of the club.
The Chicago company would look beyond Europe to America and Africa for players who could be developed and who would reduce the need for expensive signings or loan deals.
There would also be funds to boost the squad for next season's League one promotion challenge.
Club 9 have repeated their offer of an immediate 3m injection, a write-off of 6.5m of the club's 25m debt, followed by a further 2m before the 2011-12 season, and another 5m upon the team gaining promotion to the Championship.
In return, the Americans and their new partner, Dennis Hobson, would gain a controlling interest in the club and control of the board.
Club 9 also claim they have the support of the club's bank, the Co-op.
The Americans have set out their ideas and plans in an open letter to fans.
They say the club needs new leadership and new energy; they say they specialise in turnarounds of "distressed" businesses, and in sport management and marketing.
"We know that Sheffield Wednesday has the history, size, stadium and fan support of a Premier League team," the letter states. "We have studied the city of Sheffield and find it a very strong market with a solid future and the strength to support two large clubs - with Wednesday being the preferred, of course."
"Alan Irvine, Sean McAuley and Howard Wilkinson would get not only money to make key acquisitions this season, but also an international player-development programme.
"Using key strategic relationships we have in place, SWFC will expand its player development program well beyond Europe and into the Americas and Africa," says the US firm.
"Using the Wednesday Academy as the base, we will institute a world-wide player development system that will reduce the financial pressure to make expensive signings and player loan arrangements in lieu of a long-term plan to organically develop much of the future talent of Wednesday.
"While this will not eliminate the need for short-term player acquisitions, it will greatly reduce the need to spend massively into a system that has proven to lead many good clubs into insolvency instead of championships."
Club 9 would provide "highly experienced" sport marketing and management personnel, and put a major focus on customer service and improving relationships with fans.
They also pledge not to sell Hillsborough or the training ground, and they have plans to improve the stadium.
Wednesday have shunned the offer and believe that the proposed financial injections undervalue the club. They also have concerns about how long-term funding would be carried out.
It is also understood that the club have moved on to negotations with other potential investors.
READ MORE: Read Club 9's open letter - CLICK HERE.
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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