Sheffield Wednesday: Owls hopeful of Davies deal

Midfielder Mark Davies is on the brink of completing his protracted switch to Sheffield Wednesday.
Mark DaviesMark Davies
Mark Davies

It appeared the Owls’ hopes of capturing the Bolton Wanderers player had been dashed after they initially failed to agree personal terms with the 27-year-old. Negotiations had also stalled over a disagreement on his severance package at Bolton.

But Wednesday, sitting just outside the Championship’s play-off zone, are believed to have resolved the issue and the defensive midfielder is close to arriving on a free transfer, with Wanderers paying off part of his outstanding contract to facilitate the transfer.

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Subject to Davies passing a medical, he is set to pen a two-and-a-half-year contract.

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However, Bolton have contacted the Football League to complain about Wednesday’s handling of the deal, according to a BBC report.

Davies was snapped up by Bolton in 2009 from Wolves and played in the Premier League for the Trotters before they suffered relegation to the second-tier of English football in the 2011/12 season. He has made over 150 appearances for the Lancashire club, but was left out of Tuesday’s 3-2 loss against Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, chief operating officer Paul Bell has left the Owls after a little over a year and returned to Leeds United to become their new executive director. Bell, who has previously held the role of director of commercial affairs for four-and-a-half years at Leeds, replaces Adam Pearson, who used to be a member of Wednesday’s committee. Pearson quit his Leeds role last September.

Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri said: “I am grateful for all the help Paul has given me since I arrived at Sheffield Wednesday.

“He has helped me to take the club forward off the pitch and whilst I am disappointed to see him leave, I understand his decision based on the opportunity he has been offered.”

Wednesday’s final home fixture of the campaign against Cardiff City has been brought forward 24 hours to Saturday, April 30.