'It has that potential' - prospective Sheffield Wednesday owners told to follow Premier League blueprints
Sky Sports’ EFL expert, Don Goodman, is hoping someone comes along with a long-term plan to take Sheffield Wednesday forward.
Sky Sports pundit and co-commentator Don Goodman has said Sheffield Wednesday’s next owner must develop a strategy with the long-term ambition of the club becoming a Premier League staple.
As reported by The Star on Monday, ten interested parties in buying the club have now provided proof of funds for £50million, meaning the takeover race is moving in the right direction. Prospective buyers have been set a soft deadline of November 21 to submit their offers.
The Star understands the process will then be subject to a two-week negotiation period, at which point the intention of the administrators is to select a preferred bidder on December 5.
As highlighted by the fact the number of parties to have provided proof of funds is now into double figures, it shows interest in buying the Owls has not been in short supply. Supporters are desperate for a new dawn after several years of chaos under outgoing owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Although the dream for every Wednesday supporter is for the next owner to have very deep pockets that will allow for them to pour money into the club, a proper strategy and long-term plan is arguably more important.
Goodman: ‘Owls have potential’
And amid recent suggestions a European-talent spotting group had entered the race to buy the Owls, EFL expert Goodman, who has already described the chance to buy Wednesday as a “golden opportunity”, believes whoever lays their hands on the Hillsborough outfit must come in with the motivation to try and make them an established Premier League outfit.
Speaking to Football League World, Goodman said: “Look, I think Sheffield Wednesday is just such a huge, huge football club. And it's going to be a huge, huge football club that is probably going to end up in League One.
“And so for that reason, that kind of model, a platform to showcase rising talent, would work, but there needs to come a point in the future where the owners are ambitious enough to want Sheffield Wednesday to become an established Premier League club.
“It has that potential, but it needs a lot of TLC, and it needs investment, and it needs a transfer model that is similar to Brighton's or Brentford's or Bournemouth's that works.
“So exciting, absolutely. But it must be with the aim of getting Sheffield Wednesday to the top of English football.”