Sheffield Wednesday take important first step to bringing back the retro Owls badge
The prospective Sheffield new owners of Sheffield Wednesday intend to change the club badge should they go on to take ownership of the club.
Season ticket holders at Sheffield Wednesday have received official club correspondence canvassing opinion on whether or not they would welcome the return of the ‘retro Owl’ club crest as part of a ‘future planning’ exercise, The Star understands.
Wednesday are in the midst of a potential takeover by US consortium Arise Capital Partners, with bid leader David Storch having already outlined his desire to change the official badge and bring back the minimalist design used in yesteryear and has been seen on this season’s third shirt.
The switch in badge is thought to be an almost universally popular idea with Wednesday supporters. As per EFL rules designed to protect the heritage of clubs, any such changes to official club crests must be ratified by a consultation process with supporters and an email sent to season ticket holders on Friday afternoon would appear to be carrying that brief.
Recipients are asked simply whether they would prefer to continue with the club’s current badge, or change to the ‘retro Owl’ going forward. The email reads in part: “As part of ongoing research and future planning for the club, we are reviewing elements of our identity. Ahead of any potential changes in club ownership, we want to understand the views of our regular match-goers in respect to the official club badge.
“We’re therefore asking Season Ticket Holders to take part in a short, one‑question survey to tell us which of the two badges below you personally prefer.”
As previously reported by The Star, Storch is understood to have considered the club’s future kit dealings. A future supplier is unknown as although the club are understood to be tied-in to their existing deal with Macron, Wednesday would have the right to end that partnership as per the terms of exiting administration. It is understood that the terms of that deal, negotiated by then-chairman Dejphon Chansiri in 2021, are not seen as especially favourable to the club.