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Owls drop investment deadline

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Published Date: 10 March 2009
WEDNESDAY today dropped their target deadline of March 31 for an investment deal to be completed.
It follows Dave Allen's announcement that he will not take a proposed cut on the £2m that he is owed by the club.

An official statement released by the Owls made no direct mention of the former chairman but said that not all parties involved are
currently prepared to accept compromises necessary for a deal with potential investors to go through within the hoped-for time scale.

The Owls says that the potential investors remain interested and that fresh efforts will be made to find a solution, while the business plan already being put into place at Hillsborough is taking the club forward.

Wednesday say that the club remain in discussions with "credible potential investors."

The statement also says: "The board believes these investors are prepared in principle to invest, and will continue to work with them and the current stakeholders to put the right structure in place to secure their investment."

Wednesday have always said that the issues were complex and that the March 31 deadline was suggested to focus minds, though there was no guarantee that anything would be sealed by then.

Their statement added: "It is the board's intention to continue its efforts to find a solution to the current structuring problems which is acceptable to all parties involved, and it remains committed to delivering new investment in line with the long-term business plan of the company."

It is understood that investors are unwilling to spend the £27m or so that it would take just to clear the club's debts to the bank, Allen and other major creditors, before any spending directly on the club, so are looking for restructuring of the overall debt to make investment a viable proposition.

The bank, the Co-op, recently agreed in principle to write off a large portion - believed to have been around 50 per cent - of the £21m owed to it. It is understood that major creditors were also asked to take a cut on the amounts owed to them.

It is also believed that the bank - the major players in the affair because they are by far the biggest creditors - would not entertain other loan-note holders getting back 100 per cent of their money while they (the bank] were ready to forego a large percentage.

Chief executive Nick Parker said today that "a majority" of the club's loan-note holders shared the view of the bank.

Parker added: "As is their prerogative, not all creditors have agreed to the compromise package within the timetable and so we have not been able to formalise negotations with potential investors.

"Therefore no proposals can be out to shareholders, but we will continue discussions to see if an acceptable middle ground can be found."

Chairman Lee Strafford said that the bid to bring in major investment was by no means finished.

Parker also said: "The board are aware that there are potential investors interested in our club. We may be living in a tough economic climate but the interest is there.

"The reality is that no serious investor is inclined to invest in this business unless major changes are made to the financial backdrop of the company. An investor wants to make sure their money is being used to grow a business, not for servicing a large debt.

"We know the interest exists from potential investors; the board will now reconsider the structure that was proposed and see if a solution can be found that is acceptable to everyone involved.."

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  • Last Updated: 10 March 2009 2:39 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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1

Richbladefan,

Norton Lees 10/03/2009 14:40:17
oops !!!!!!
2

all seeing eye,

10/03/2009 14:43:43
SURPRISE, SURPRISE. . . . Here come Cilla!
Farce does not do this lot justice does it.
3

mexico wednesday,

home 10/03/2009 14:53:52
once again the supporters hopes raised then knocked down again,when will it ever end
4

owlzmaadal,

Sheffield 10/03/2009 14:59:34
It appears that only Mr. Allen will accept the full mount owed and all others are willing to accept a cut including the bank. Whilst Straffoed has said that he was unwilling to put any money into the club, why doesnt he show an example by buying all Loan notes from Allen together with his shares and then accept half their value from the bidding consortium. He wont then be asking other people to do what he isnt willing to do himself. The guys got £26m from his company sale, he needs to put his own money where his mouth is, he cant call Mr. Allen because like him or loathe him he put more into the club than anyone else over the last ten years not including what he is owed. Your move Mr Strafford, I would if Id got your brass.
5

Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 10/03/2009 15:00:07
Here we go again!

When will Sheffield Wednesday F.C learn to keep its own council, instead of continually blabbing its dirty laundry to the entire world, only to end up with fried egg on their faces, when everything goes bottoms up once again.

You just couldn't make it up! It's becoming so embarrassing and frustrating, watching the goings on down at Hillsborough.

The club continually makes itself a laughing stock and looks increasingly desperate and amatuerish.

This is beyond a joke now!

Firstly Geoff Sheard and now we have Lee chuffing Strafford.

Please keep your mouths shut Wednesday, until something has actually happened.

We the fans have had enough of the managerial ineptitude in S6, and just want stability and good business practices, and yet we continually see none of these.

Please sort yourselves out and let's all get this club back to where it belongs!

6

AnstonOwl,

10/03/2009 15:08:51
Come on, lets be serious, did we all really expect to be the next Man City on 31st March?? I'm as dissappointed as the next man, however whatever happens we are in a comfortable league position, and we did beat the oinkers.

If someone had offered at the start of the season a top 10 finish (which is very possible), and a double over the pigs, I would have taken that.
7

clayxblade,

royal derbyshire 10/03/2009 15:26:25
it must be november all the time at S6 as the pantomime never ends!!!!!

:-)

not today is it dad?

Kevin McCabe is a god!!!
8

Herbieowl,

Hillsborough 10/03/2009 15:34:23
Yes clayxblade must be quite soul destroying being beaten twice by a pantomine outfit !!!!
9

clayxblade,

royal derbyshire 10/03/2009 15:37:52
will be even more soul destroying to get promoted in the same season, and even worse still the Tevez cheque still to come!!! ;-)

i`ll live with that Herbie
10

Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 10/03/2009 15:42:18
What are the implications of going in to administration and canceling all the debt out, in one fell swoop?

Any thoughts? Pro's and cons?

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