'Really bright' - Darren Moore makes prediction about Sheffield Wednesday's future after takeover
Arise Capital Partners have vowed to put key fundamentals in place at Hillsborough after completing their purchase of Sheffield Wednesday.
Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore is tipping “a really bright future” for the club following Arise Capital Partners’ takeover of the Owls.
The US consortium, headed up by David Storch, secured the keys to Hillsborough almost a fortnight ago, bringing an end to a turbulent period for the club. Former owner Dejphon Chansiri relinquished his control of the Owls last October, plunging the club into administration.
Arise, who are fully aware of the size and scale of the challenge they have taken on, are determined to put key fundamentals in place to give Wednesday the best chance of finding their feet again as quickly as possible both on and off the pitch.
David Bruce has been installed as the Owls’ new chief executive and Simon Wilson, formerly of Stockport County and Manchester City, is expected to be appointed as sporting director, highlighting Arise’s quest to improve standards on both the business side and the sporting side of the operation.
Moore spent just over two years at Hillsborough before being sacked by Chansiri in June 2023, just weeks after he oversaw English football’s most historic play-off campaign to take Wednesday back to the Championship.
Having seen firsthand what infrastructure improvements are required at Hillsborough to take Wednesday forward, the former Owls boss has been encouraged by what he has heard from the new ownership group thus far.
“The new American owners will see the passion,” Moore told the Mail. “Wednesday for me is the biggest club outside the Premier League.
“I used to meet up regularly for a cup of tea with my old West Brom boss Gary Megson and he'd say if you get this going, it'll be like a runaway train. And he was right. We sold 46,000 tickets for Wembley (in 2023) and we asked for 4,000 more.
“They've seen a snippet of that since the takeover. I know the club will heal itself because of the fans and they can bounce back next season, but the problem is that it's going to be expensive.
“You've got to be careful because of everything that needs doing in terms of stadium improvements. I'm talking about central heating and hot water. The basic structural needs of the football club require investment.
“That's what they say they're doing. Get the infrastructure right and that place will soar. It can get back to the Premier League inside five years if it's managed correctly.
“I can see a really bright future for Wednesday.”