Exclusive:Latest on Sheffield Wednesday sporting director role as takeover process continues
Prospective new owners at Sheffield Wednesday are busy pressing on with the takeover of the club - with decisions to be made around the filling of some key roles should they go on to complete the process.
A ground-up rebuild of Sheffield Wednesday’s football operation is required next summer, with the US consortium looking to take ownership of the club having identified options for some of its key roles.
Sources suggest there remains a road to be run on the completion of the takeover and that after a meeting held between the club’s administrators, the EFL and preferred bidders Arise last week, fresh solutions have been sought over remaining hurdles including the 15-point deduction set to be placed on Wednesday heading into next season.
Should the takeover complete, The Star reported last week that outgoing Sunderland business chief David Bruce is the man lined-up to take on the position of Wednesday CEO. Beyond that hire would be other significant decisions, including the creation and filling of a sporting director - or a variation of the theme - to oversee the football operation in partnership with management and recruitment.
Such is the lean structure at S6 and the scale of the rebuild needed for a scarce squad, the position is perhaps one of the most vital decisions that Arise would face. Ahead of a sustained May 1 target date for completion, time is of the essence for the club to kick into gear ahead of next season.
Two names were linked with the job in other outlets last week; namely former Arsenal technical director James Ellis and ex-Hearts sporting director Joe Savage. Both are unattached to clubs as things stand. Via sources, The Star understands that Ellis - who is also linked with a similar job at Bristol City - is indeed one of a handful of names being considered for the role.
The Star’s understanding is that while there was some degree of initial contact with Savage, talks have gone no further and that as things stand he does not appear to be a frontrunner for the position. Other as of yet unknown names are believed to be under consideration.
Whoever lands the job inherits a blank canvas and a major rebuilding brief, with only a handful of senior Wednesday players heading into the summer under contract. The club are likely to have to operate to an agreed ‘business plan’ with the EFL regarding their ability to spend, though the initially proposed figures of £7k-per-week for individual players and a topline £7m total wage spend is understood to have been renegotiated.