Exclusive:State of play as group linked with ex-Sunderland chief Charlie Methven take interest in Sheffield Wednesday
A group involving former Sunderland chief executive Charlie Methven has again lodged an interest in taking over Sheffield Wednesday, The Star understands, though time may be against them when it comes to formulating their bid.
A group led by Methven were among a wide range of interested parties to engage with the administration process first time around, though it’s not known how far his group went forward. The group were not involved in the latter stages of a process that took three parties to a final bidding stage that ended on Christmas Eve when a consortium led by James Bord was put forward as preferred bidder by administrators at Begbies Traynor.
With time lost from the failed Bord bid, Begbies Traynor have told supporters and creditors alike that they will be running an expediated process to name a new preferred bidder, with the likes of the Storch Group and Mike Ashley thought to have re-entered discussions having been heavily involved in proceedings before Christmas.
A source within the Methven-linked bid team has suggested that while his investors are taking a strong interest in the potential acquisition, it is felt time is against them in terms of being able to play catch-up on those who were involved long into the initial process - and that with so much information still to digest, it is possible they won’t be able to do the appropriate level of due diligence required to put forward a properly priced-up bid.
Following the exit of the Bord bid from proceedings last Wednesday, The Star’s understanding has been that administrators had hoped to receive a fresh round of offers for the club this week.
The steer on where Methven’s investors sit within the process further colours the ongoing Wednesday takeover race. On Friday our colleagues at BBC Sheffield reported that beyond the known interest from Ashley and Storch, two mystery bidders had made moves on the purchase of the club. Methven’s group would appear to be one of those.
Methven took a lead on running Sunderland between May 2018 and December 2019 and was CEO of Charlton Athletic from June 2023 until March 2025. He also has a holding in Belgian club RAEC Mons.