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Canadian no to Owls takeover



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Published Date:
08 May 2008
A CANADIAN group which has been linked with Sheffield Wednesday have ruled themselves out of the running for a Hillsborough takeover.
Top officials from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment met the Owls, Southampton and Reading on a recent trip to England.

They also watched matches at Spurs and Chelsea and attended a football business convention.

It started a wave of speculation in England and Canada that Maple Leaf, who own Toronto FC, could be launching a bid for an English club.

But the company, said from the outset that their trip was a fact-finding mission and it was premature to link them with an English takeover.

It is understood that they have now decided that English football is not for them.

The Owls' financial advisors, Deloitte and Touche, will focus on other potential targets and use the lure of possible Premier League status as a selling point in their bid to find a buyer of the club.

The timing of the Owls' announcement that they have directed the firm to launch a search for new investment is understood to be closely linked to the sealing of Championship safety.

The club did not know until Sunday that they were definitely staying up.

Now they can be marketed as a Championship outfit - one with good potential and with a stadium and fan base suitable for the Premier League.

This is bound to be more attractive to some potential investors than the prospect of taking over a League One club, though it understood that consortium leaders Geoff Sheard and Jon Sotnick would both have continued their takeover bids even if the team had gone down.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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The full article contains 341 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 08 May 2008 11:00 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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1

owl down under,

08/05/2008 09:50:21
WAKE UP GUYS---THERE'S NO BUYER
2

Ancient Owl,

Wiltshire 08/05/2008 10:14:02
I'm less optimistic about finding a buyer than Paul Thompson seems to be, for three reasons:

1)That debt; 2)The complicated diversity of the shareholding; and 3) The presence at the other end of the city of another outfit in the same line of business, thus halving the potential of the marketplace.

I've been a Wednesday follower for more than 65 years, and it's ironic that, until now, the spread of the shares has been regarded as a protection against predators.

Fortunately there seems little risk of administration. Apart from the support of the Co-op Bank we have a stadium with a value that must just about match the debt.

Ancient Owl
3

maygurney owl,

sheff 08/05/2008 10:48:38
it makes you think if we had gone down and into administration with the dept wiped out what would have happend.
i think we will still going into next season as we are now skint.
already clubs are looking for new players and we are looking for a buyer so we can get new players in,so asper we will get what every one else does not want.lets hope we can keep the young lads we have and mr walker does not cash them in ?????????
4

Fingers,

08/05/2008 12:39:59
Ancient Owl from Wiltshire may be right in thinking that certain aspects of the clubs structure creates obstacles to a takeover but the prescence of Who-nited is not one of them as many UK cities have two clubs. the real threat from the smaller club is in its ambitions and in its chairmans strategy to grow. Wednesday have the evidence of it's shot to the foot in Sundays crowd. The board should be looking at this and rethinking the pricing structure for season tickets. Drop the advertised price significantly for early payers and get the sales in the bag. Revenue can be recouped through concessions but if performances slip as they did this year we run the risk of seeing attendances falling even further. A takeover is more likely when attendances are healthy.

Maybe the saddest thing is that we are discussing the possibility of a takeover as something that is needed, but that's another issue.
5

penrhyn bay owl ,

landudno 08/05/2008 13:03:47
i wouldn't be too concerned about a takeover at present what we need to do is secure the services of all the younger element donning the shirt at the moment , in them lies our very future .
all have been pressed into service over the last couple of years as a result of injuries to so called first teamers .
they are now the very heart of a young exciting breed who can go on to great things hopefully at s.6 .
law's needs to concentrate on midfield and build that around mcalister if he can get the right mixture then regardless of takeovers / financial restraints / boardroom upheaval he will have a winning side with nobody to fear in the championship .
6

TrueViews,

Sheffield 08/05/2008 13:17:34
Did you hear Kevan Walker on BBC Radio Sheffield? He says "anyone who might be interested in buying the club please get in touch." In other words the other potential sales are 'Dead in the water'. And he says they "will carry on business in the same routine as in the past." I take it to mean 'sell off any players who might fetch a few bob'. Remember Chris Brunt and Boughera? It is quite clear that they have frightened off the potential buyers. Is it that they want far too much for the shares ? So any decent offers for the best players and they will be sold. Owls fans get ready for another relegation fight with loan signings and players on low wages. Those thinking of Season tickets should review their plans. Its the only way fans can have a voice.
7

Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 08/05/2008 16:08:01
I agree with 'TrueViews'. The only way to let the club know of our disapproval at the way Wednesday are being run, is to not buy a season ticket for next season.

If people purchase one, then they are letting the Owls down, as it will be seen by the board that everyone is happy with the situation.

I urge everyone to boycott them. Mass protest is the only way that things will change and the only way that our club can be saved and move forward.

Please, please 'DO NOT' buy a season ticket!!
8

owl down under,

08/05/2008 20:07:04
DONT BUY A SEASON TICKET? FORCE THE CLUB INTO ADMINISTRATION? LOOSE 10 POINTS? BE RELEGATED, NEVER TO BE HEARD OF AGAIN? THEN LOOK FOR A BUYER? Really.

But B4 you do----Ask the Liecester fans what they think of take-overs
9

owl down under,

08/05/2008 20:11:06
Are we all clear why the transactions have died in the water? Yes I think we can all read between the lines.
10

Barnmeg1,

uk 08/05/2008 21:34:58
theres no takeover whatsoever, why does this club try to maintain everything is fine but clearly its not, there are no takers for this club, proves it by how the club are lookin 4 buyers, were going nowhere and thats final, it doesnt take this long for a takeover to take place so its a sham, thats it.
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