Exclusive:Options explored over Sheffield Wednesday training ground as Arise continue takeover push
The Sheffield Wednesday takeover efforts of US consortium Arise continue - with parties working towards a completion date of this Friday.
Would-be Sheffield Wednesday owners Arise Capital Partners have undertaken exploratory discussions over how best to manage the club’s tired training facilities should they complete their acquisition of the club, The Star understands. The US group, led by David Storch, are at the business end of a process with the EFL that will determine whether they are able to take the crisis-stricken club on by Friday.
The size and quality of the club’s training ground at Middlewood Road has long since been a contentious issue, with football figures having suggested the two-pitch facility having fallen below the modern standards of a large EFL club.
A recent statement by Storch outlined some of the work that had been done to line-up a range of different aspects around the running of the club and a vital, ground-up rebuild of infrastructure at a number of levels. The Star understands among the primary considerations is the set-up of the club’s training operation, with Wednesday’s academy category level believed to be under threat of a drop in classification from Category 2 to Category 3.
That drop in categorisation could stand to impact the club’s EPPP placing and its funding level going forward. Though time would be against them, sources close to Arise have said that their ownership is prepared to do what is necessary in an effort to retain the academy’s second-level placing and that options are being explored as to how they might be able to achieve that in the short-term.
Given the lean facilities at Middlewood Road have left academy sides training on artificial surfaces at times, it’s believed that among those considerations would be the plausibility of moving at least part of Wednesday’s academy arm off-site for some of the week to alternative grass venues. The Star understands potential links with local universities have been explored, though are at an early stage. It’s understood these are not the only potential options under discussion.
Those options represent short-term assistance with the immediate issues the facility faces, though medium and longer-term plans are to be considered. One source with knowledge of the Arise bid said there is an acceptance that the Middlewood Road site is ‘inadequate’ for the longer-term project they have in mind and in time - should their takeover process complete of course - considerations will be made over improvements to the current base and ultimately the potential of a new site.
One site that The Star has reasons to believe has been raised to the group is that of the now vacated Mount St Mary’s College in Spinkhill, though it’s understood that talks around the longer-term plans are at an embryonic stage any consideration around the site is purely a case of discussion at this stage. The Spinkhill site is perhaps not seen as ideal in terms of distance and a wide range of other options are likely to be considered if and when the project moves forward.
Discussions with the EFL will continue into the coming days as parties look towards the possible closure of a deal on May 1. The hope is that Arise, led by Storch, his son Michael and fellow investor Tom Costin, will be in place ahead of the final match of a long and difficult campaign on Saturday.