-15 points, David Storch statement and next steps - The Wednesday Word LIVE

David Storch, whose Arise Capital Partners consortium is hoping to buy Sheffield Wednesday, released a lengthy statement taking aim at the EFL last night after being informed that the Owls would be hit with -15 next season.

Our founder, Joe Crann, goes live tonight to field your questions about the situation, and discuss any other pressing matters at Hillsborough.

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to uh Sheffield Wednesday, the Wednesday World Live. It's been another 24 hours at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. It feels like we have these moments far too often for this football club of ours where things happen, things get said, people are worried and concerned about everything that's going on about the football club. So I thought today I'd do a bit of a live Q ⁇ A and I still try and help to answer some of your questions that you have, given the situation that's going on at Sheffield Wednesday. I don't know about everybody else. I I didn't read it that way. I think the way that I read the statement was that they want to fight this, they they want to try and you know fight the the minus 15. There's there's all sorts going on in the back in the background here. Um, but I didn't feel like it read as an ultimatum. I didn't feel like it was uh, you know, you give us the minus 15 or we pull out. You know, there's there's been some stuff from the the trust today that was on the the Sheffield Star, and that's in line with with my understanding as well, that there have been sort of assurances given that it's not a case of give us zero points next season or or we're done. And I think that's important for a lot of Wednesday fans. They they want to know that there is um, I suppose, a commitment to to moving this this forward. So, in answer to Joe Hale's question, I I don't feel like it's a step back. I feel like the the conversations and the the negotiations and the discussions between the Arise Consortium, David Storch and Tom Coston and Michael Storch, I I don't feel like the I don't think they've they've ever got to a point where it's it's just kind of stopped. I feel like it's it's moved fast at points, it's moved slowly at points, and and this is one of those those stages where it's they're sort of just kind of trying to work their way their way through it. So no, I don't think there's a step back. I don't think the takeovers in doubt on the back of this statement. I just feel like there is a there's a point from the from the the consortium that they are that they feel like the uh the 15-point duction is is unfair and they're trying to fight that and they're you know they're they're trying to to move things forward in that point. I definitely to me anyway, and and based on the conversations I've had, it definitely doesn't feel like a like an ultimatum of like I say, you you don't give us a 15-point deduction or we walk away. Um another one sort of in in line with that was was from Wes Gore uh about the you know relaxation on on fee restrictions or or a wage cap. You know, from the conversations I've had, it does feel like progress has been has been made on that. Um obviously nothing's been signed off, nothing's been finalised, and until that's the case, that effectively none of it means anything. Um, but I do think that based on what I've spoken to people about, the conversation that have been had over the the wage cap, which was obviously um the seven grand a week and seven million for for the season overall, uh, and the fee restriction, which was effectively nothing, you don't have to pay anything for transfers, loan fees, whatever it might be. Um as far as I know, it's not a case of those don't be wiped out entirely. But from what I have had conversations about, it does feel like people, the people involved would would be satisfied with the I suppose the negotiation, the compromise that's there. That changes, I suppose, when when it comes to the minus 15 on top of that. Um, so that's the the big sticking point here, um, which is obviously what has been said in in David Storch's statement. Um they are that the minus 15 puts Wednesday at a real disadvantage next season. And you know, we've we've seen with with what's been said from David Storch in his statement about the way that they feel about that. Before I do carry on, there was one specific thing in in the statement. It was it was a really uh well thought out, well prepared statement, I thought from from the arise group, and obviously it's got David Storch's name on it. But I thought that the the fact that they simple what they said was I could say it was well thought out, it was well well prepared. But there's a couple of paragraphs in there that I just want to read here, which I thought were were key in all of it. And that was um, despite all of this, let me be clear, it remains our absolute intention to complete this transaction by the 1st of May. Sheffield Wednesday is worth saving. We believe in its supporters, its history and its future. And as we have shown today, we remain prepared to invest in the time, capital, and energy required to rebuild this club properly, from its infrastructure to its football and foundations. And I think that says a lot, really. This the in in that while the statement was scored, I think those couple of pars really uh illuminate what what the storage the storches and the rides consortium are trying to do with Wednesday. They they're not looking for a quick fix here. This is a this is something they want to rebuild, something they want to create, um the ashes to some extent. Um, and you know, there's there's there's things that they are doing that I do think indicate that. Um, you know, one thing did a did a story today on on the Wednesday word um about David Bruce, who's who's a person of interest. Uh my uh my my good friend Alex Miller followed that up with with a story saying that he's you know leading the race for the the CEO, and it's I think Alex's words were it's all but done. Um that's the sort of person they're looking at. You know, David Bruce is a very accomplished, um, very successful man in what he does. He spent a decade working for the the MLS. Um, you know, he's he's been the the chief business officer at Sunderland for what has been you know the most successful period in their recent history. And I think you look at the the caliber of someone like David Bruce and what he's achieved and the fact that he is the sort of person that they're after, I think that says a lot about the the consortium and and the sort of people that that they're trying to bring in and what they want to what they want to do. Um we had another another question for for well, I suppose these two kind of link together. You you've got one from Carter who said, Can a storage group effectively pay more in order to avoid the minus 15? I mean they can, but it doesn't really make business sense, right? You know, you you you wouldn't overpay for a product um for the sake of it, I suppose. I think what one thing that is worth pointing out in in all of this is that my understanding is, and I think it's been it's been mentioned elsewhere, is that the the Chancellor element of this is the big chunk. Like that's where the the big money would be going uh in a in a takeover like this. From my understanding, that there's no there's no issue with you know trying to strike a deal elsewhere which would allow the the I suppose the local creditors to be paid the 25p on the pound. Look, the 25p on the pound is is the FL thing, right? That's that's not a you know, I think we we've seen over the years with administrations and and that sort of stuff in non-football in circles, you know, 2p on the pound, 7p on the pound, those kinds of figures. You know, the 25p on the pound has been introduced by the FL for various reasons, and you know, the the the reasons for them doing that are fine, but Wednesday's situation is is pretty uh specific and quite niche, and and you know that there's a lot there's a lot happened at Wednesday, and because so much is owed to to Chancellor, that is a it's a big part of this. I do think, you know, like I say, from my understanding that there's no issue with the idea of making sure the local creditors get paid the 2500 pounds that it would require. But in order to do that, there has to be some leeway from from the EFL. You know, the the the EFL are effectively in charge of of all of this, they're the ones who are deciding what can and can't happen to Shepherd Wednesday next season. They have the discretion, they are able to um to make these decisions. Um, so yeah, that that's the the current state of play there. I do think that there is, you know, in terms of the local creditors that rode money, I don't think there's any issue there. I think the the the Arise group would be more than willing to pay that if there was uh an agreement or a you know uh I suppose uh put something in place that would that would allow some leniency in in that sense. And that sort of leads on to a question from Finn that came afterwards uh about the the IFR, the independent independent football regulator, um, and the the timeline that that's included in that because that is important in all this, right? That the right now everything is running through the EFL, the you know proper the owner's test that they do. Once we we spill into May, that becomes the IFR's issue. And I and I do think that is is is a big part of this now with with Wednesday, is that what we don't know what that entails. We we don't know that could be a process that takes weeks, it could be a process that takes months. Wednesday will be the guinea pig on that, and I don't think anybody who's involved in this this current process of Shepard Wednesday's takeover wants to spill into that because we don't know how long that is then going to take, which is you know, David Storge has spoken about May 1st as a as a deadline and what he wants to what he wants to move on and the date that he wants to sort of finalise completion by. And obviously, part of that is the last game of the season and and the West Brown game that finally counts is going to be great. I can't wait for that. Um, but I think the other thing is like the the that's sort of when the IFR comes into into play, and and having that as a uh as a as a as an unknown quantity on the back of it is is far from ideal because Wednesday need to get done. This can't spill into next season. You know, there is a timing issue here, you know. That new process that begins in in early May, you know, Wednesday and the new owners have got a squad to put together, they've got a stadium to sum up. I suppose the question does become about at what point does it become not feasible to sort of take that into next season and and and not really know where Wednesday are at in that sense. There has to be not a cut-off point where you pull the plug, but like there has to come a cut-off point when you are able to say, Well, this is what we can do and can't do. And I think, like I say, the the timeline of that is is vital because not just the people buying Sheffield Wednesday as a as a football club, but everyone who everyone who's a uh who partakes in this as a as a as an entity, whether that's us as the media or you as the fans or you know, any anyone that's local businesses or all that kind of stuff, everybody has to have some idea of where this ends and and where a new dawn begins for for Sheffield Wednesday. I think that is where the timing element of this does come into play. Wednesday, you know, David Storch and Rise, and the guys who are doing that need need answers and they need to move this forward because a massive summer lies ahead for Sheffield Wednesday. They have so much work to do. You know, we we I did a story earlier in the week about the sheer amount of work that needs to be done in the in the transfer window. When's you looking at that? Nine players, you know, nine, nine senior players that are contracted for next season. And those nine, by the way, include guys like Sean Facera, um, you know, who are, yes, that's they're senior by virtue of being part of the senior team now, but they're not senior football players. Um you're looking at you know 13, 14, 15 new players that need to come in for Wednesday next season. You can't really do that if you're in a position where you where the the new owners don't know if they're able to take over. And as I say, like I say, sorry, that's the the timeline of this and why the I suppose the May 1st that the David Store just spoken about is so important. Because it once it moves over to the IFR, like I said, it becomes an unknown quantity, and and that's the point when we we don't really uh we don't know how long that takes. Um thanks for listening to all that, by the way. That was a much longer intro than I expected it to be. Um I will go through to to some questions now. Um we've got some some loads loads of comments here, which is which is great. We've got one um here from Joel Skelland. Um confident about the takeover. It's tough to say, Joel. Honestly, I think the the confidence of it is it's obviously opinion-based, right? Like the that is is my personal opinion. I I like what I've heard from the guys. I think that they've gone about things the right way. Um I think that they're saying all the right things, that the plans that they've got in place are exciting. The you know, the fact that they're already sort of looking to people for the CEO positions like someone like David Bruce, I think that says a lot about where their thinking has and the forethought that's going into it. Um but in terms of confidence, I don't think there's really a position to be saying that this is confident or not, just because there's so many moving parts of it in all of this. That they're they're committed to it, you know, they want to get something done. But in terms of my personal confidence, I you know, I've supported this club far too long. I've seen way too much happen at this football team, so I won't be hanging my hat on anything. Until um until David Storch and Arise and Tom Coston and all until their names are on this as an ownership of a football club, I will uh I will not be satisfied because uh I've seen things change far far too quickly and far too often during my time covering this football team. Um I've got a question here from from Lee. Um Nick DeMarco's name's been been mentioned, and I think you know, are we certain whether Nick Marco is representing Storch? He's involved with David Storch for sure. Um, you know, Nick Nick DeMarco is uh yeah, he's the Lionel Messi of the football law world, I suppose. You know, you you look at the different elements, you've got Kieran Maguire, who's the finance guy, you've got Nick DeMarco is the law guy. Yeah, we we know that that they're working with with Nick DeMarco to what point now is is is unsure. We we don't know where things are going to go from uh an arbitration perspective, whether things go to the this to CAS, which is the court of arbitration of sport, whether that's something that we see a little bit down the line. Um, yeah, all that we're we're not entirely sure. We'll have to wait and see. But yes, Nick DeMarco is working with Wednesday and uh with the David Storch group. So we'll have to see kind of where that goes. So nice messages here from from from Keith saying hello to everybody. We've got Mark there, we've got um we've got uh Oli Cibond, great name. Um yeah, we've also got Matt there. Um another question, well, I suppose a statement from Matt saying that he took the statement to be a positive one. Me too. I think that the fact that they were saying what they were saying felt positive to me. I think there is it's easy to look at the sort of different parts of the statement and and say this is not necessarily a positive thing or this is worrying, this is concerning. But for me, I knew I I looked at it and I thought the the general gist of it was that they they still want to get this thing done and they want to finalise the deal to buy Sheffield Wednesday. They're just trying to get the best deal that they can. It was, you know, that my understanding is that the obviously the EFL, they will have seen this, they they will have seen the the statement that there's there's been no comment from the EFL um just yet. Whether that changes or not, I I'm not sure. I don't know if that is something that's going to change in the coming days. Um but they are they are in conversation, they are in constant negotiations, constant discussions with the guys who are looking to take over Sheffield Wednesday. As much as uh it's been said by the people that EFL doesn't want Sheffield Wednesday to not exist anymore. Uh, and I think that these these conversations, as much as it does feel like these sort of back and forth happen, it does feel like like I said earlier in the in the show, really, it even though the it goes from sort of taking big steps to taking little steps, it does feel like things are are moving forward. And and and and like I said, I don't think that the minus 15 is a deal breaker for to arise. And if they have to deal with that, they have to deal with it. Don't be wrong, though I'm sure there will be other bits in there that are deal breakers for them, but I I do think that that things are moving forward, and you know, going on to what other other people have said, uh, I don't think that this is a I don't think the statement is is a is a bad thing by by any stretch. Um there's a message here from from Mark saying that the the statement puts pressure on the EFL. I think it does a little bit, you know. I I do think there's um there's a fair few things that have been said, um, and it's interesting looking at this the response from from other fans, I suppose, from other fans around the EFL. And to sort of paraphrase a little bit, does it has got to a point where where some fans just like, can you just leave them alone now and just let them let them get on with things? And I think that is the to some extent, that's where Wednesday fans are at now. Like, you know, Wednesday are, yes, we've been punished, there's been no sporting advantage gained by by Sheffield Wednesday. They are in a position where they're gonna be, you know, they're gonna go down as the in terms of statistically, the worst championship team there's ever been. Um the the next season potentially will start with minus 15. There's a a wage cap, there's a fee restriction. Like at what point does it end? At what point does the the punishment for a man that has, you know, by all accounts, according to their resource statement, had the option to help out, you know, Dick Ponchan Siri has been contacted and he's effectively declined to get involved in that uh and and help Wednesday out in terms of the the 25p on the pound and and and leaving an administration in that sense. At what point does the punishment stop? You know, you can't just keep um sort of it just feels like a bit of a pylon, really. And I think that's that was the main thing from that my main takeaway from the statement was was that they're they're looking to have a little bit of leeway going into what is going to be an incredibly difficult season on the back of a truly miserable awful season. Um you know, Wednesday aren't really looking for preferential treatment in that sense, they're just looking for a clean slate. And I don't think that that is um I don't think that that's too much to ask. Um, we've got a good evening there from from Philip, another thing from Joel Skellen saying um the thick the 15 points is enough punishment. I think the the the interesting thing with the 15 points is that uh you've got the 15 points, you've got the fee restriction, you've got the wage cap. And I think if you were to have a bit of leeway on the the restriction, the wage cap, you could maybe settle with the minus 15 a little bit more. I think if you were to if Wednesday were to be held, um, you know, if they were to be thrown to the wall with all three of those things, next season becomes very, very difficult. And and that feels that feels unfair, you know, and and that that's not from there. Uh by a Shepard Wendy fan perspective, I do feel like you're it's been death by a thousand cuts for Shepard Wednesday for so long now. And I think if you're going into that season with those weights hanging around your neck and so many of them, it just it just feels um, yeah, just feels feels unfair. Um another message from from Mark there, David Bouchgren, a great appointment. Look, the the man is uh he's the chief business officer in in the Premier League now to to drop down to to League One and be part of this would be like I said earlier, it was uh it feels like a it would feel like a real coup if that was to get done. He's you know, you only have to go check out his his CV and what he's achieved. And I mean, to be honest, just speaking to various people, you know, I've got colleagues that that work at Sunderland, um, Fenderman James Copley has spoken incredibly highly of David Bruce. Uh he's he's a man that that did an incredible job getting people on side and um obviously was was part of an incredible turnaround at Sunderland. They've they've had a really good few years, and and David Bruce has has been a big, big part of that. Um Thing from that there saying is that proper club run? Yeah, it's nice, isn't it? You talk about a CEO. Um, I think there's been a bit of talk about a sporting director. I'm not sure if that's also on the card. The CEO is is a definite in what they want to do. I think the sporting director thing is still a little bit up in the air. There's been a couple of reports of names and stuff like that, but I'm not sure that one is is is quite um quite as far down the line as a potential CEO. Uh we've got a thing from Mark the Pittsmore Owl here. Yeah, Mark, how are you doing, mate? Um, thank you for doing the live. It's an absolute pleasure. Thanks for for tuning in. Um, where are things with the EFL checks? Then they're moving, Matt. They're moving. That's all I can really say at this point. The look, they've not been approved yet, and and that's the long and short of it. That they could be approved tomorrow, they could be approved in in two weeks. This is uh, and it has been for a long time, really. A lot of this is is is piece of string stuff, and we we don't know where this ends. And I think that going back to my earlier point, is we we don't know where this ends from a uh a timeline perspective as well, which is why the IFR and May 1st and all those kinds of things are such a key part of this because there needs to be a line drawn underneath that this this situation, and uh once it steps into the IFR's hands and away from the EFL's, we don't know what that's gonna be. Um, so yeah, the the the checks are ongoing and the negotiations and the I suppose the conversations are ongoing. Uh we can only help really. And I know that's not really what anybody wants to hear. We we we are in a position where we're at the as as supporters, we are at the the behest of the people who are in charge of these things. So we just gotta wait and see, see what happens. And um, yeah, like I say, they they're hoping to do something by May 1st. We can just hope that that is the case. Um a question from from Kurt here saying, Do you see what a world where the takeover passes, the 15 points hold, the rise clear the debts, other creditors provide proof and the EFL reduce reduction retroactively, despite the current posturing. I'll be honest, mate. Uh nothing would surprise me now. I I've been involved and I've been knee deep in all these EFL rules and regs and all the stuff that's going on within this space for you know practically a year now. There is so much grey area, there is so much room for manoeuvring. Um, you know, we've we've seen what's been been said about West Brom now. We're in a position now where with Jeffrey Wednesday going down into League One, you know, we're probably going to see three teams or potentially three teams going down into League One from the championship on on point deduction. I think that says a lot about the current state of of English football and and where where we're at. There is too much you know off-field stuff at play. It's not nice, it's not what any what any football fan wants to deal with. Um yeah, like I know that's not a great answer to your question. I you say, do I see a world? I can see a world when any of this happens, to be honest. Like I can see a world where we're when to get zero points, zero fee restrictions, zero wage cap. I can also see a world where when to get 15 points, seven like you know, seven million pound wage cap, seven grand a week wage cap, all that kind of stuff, and everything in between is also feasible. So I I doubt I wouldn't want to talk in it in a way that suggests that one was more likely than the other because right now that is um it's it's too difficult to say. I I really I really do mean that. I think there's there's too many moving parts in in all of that. Um and yeah, I think we we've just got to to wait and and hope that this all comes out in the wash a little bit. And you know, like I said, David Storch and his guys are are desperate to try and get the right deal done for the football club and and for them. Um and you know, if if if that gets done and and all parties are happy, then I think Wednesday can can move forward and and start to really to make a bit of progress to the football club. Um, we've got a statement here from Jay Rhodes 122. Do you think the signal will upset the EFL? Uh I'm not sure upset, but I don't think they'll be too pleased about it. I don't think look, we've not heard back from them, we've not had a had a report from them. Um, but yeah, I can't imagine that then you know the the SOC statement has gone down particularly particularly well. Uh we've got a question, another one from from Mark here. Um can David Sorch take you to the independent court, the the court of arbitration. That that is I'd have to see. I don't I don't know where things are at in that sense. That that'll take a little bit more research um in terms of what goes to Cass and what doesn't. I've I've dealt with Cass in uh you know in various stories over the over the the last probably 10 years with with various different things that I was working on in South Africa as as well as in the UK. Um Cass deal with a lot and they've got a lot on the play. Uh I don't know at what point Wednesday would take it to Cass and where they would move that forward. Um, but look, the Cass is is is always going to be there. So that's a potential option in different things. But I I it would be like I say, it would be remiss of me to to sort of say at this point, yes, Wednesday will be taking us to Cass or they won't. Um we've got some question here. Um what else we got? Uh we've got something here from James saying, is it any related to this football league world by Alan Ixon report that Chan Siri is now agreed to talk? I I don't know, James. I the way with I I haven't spoken to Chan Siri in in a long time now. Uh I've dealt with him in the past, and he has been a very tricky character in in many of my dealings with him. Um not always the easiest person to deal with, as I'm sure many of you can imagine. Um obviously we've you know we saw what what Davis Storch and the guys said during in their statement about you know failing to make any real contact with Chan Seer. So yeah, I I think we'll we'll have to wait and wait and see on that front. And you know, I think with with Chansey, any Wednesday band who's followed this football club for the the past well however long it's been since it got bad, um knows how difficult Chansey can be. So we'll have to wait and wait and see now. It's uh yeah, that the you know Chan Siri has the ability to I suppose streamline this whole thing. He's not done that so far. Will he do it? I'd be surprised. Would uh is it impossible? No, you know, all again, there's all these sort of things that are feasible and possible and maybes and ifs and buts, and that that's kind of where we're at now. We just gotta wait and see. But I I wouldn't um I wouldn't bank on any particular help from from Chancellor in in this situation. It's uh it does feel like Wednesday and the storch groups are sort of out on their own here. Um we got almost two weeks here until the West Brom game. Is it really gonna get done by them? Possibly, you know, that the I don't I think this is the the the state of of things at the moment is when things aren't uh moving forward in terms of checkpoints, people think that things aren't moving. You know, for all we know, we could be you know two ticks away from this being done, we could be 40 ticks away from this being done. Um yes, it's it's not that long until the end of the season now, but we also don't know exactly what point these um these EFL checks are at and and and how far away that they are from being from being ratified, and and ultimately only the people that are involved in those know that. So, you know, all all we've been told, all I've been told is that this is a big week, but you know, that there's been plenty of big weeks in the last few um in the last few weeks at Sheffield Wednesday. So I I don't think that it's uh it's I don't I don't think that it's it's a case of like going, well, it's only two weeks till the end of the season, there's no chance of this happening because I don't I don't think we know we don't know if this is at 60 or 90 percent in terms of you know the download speed on all this. So we've just got to wait and see on that front. We'll I feel like I say wait and see far too often for what you guys want to hear, but that is ultimately the case with with this. We don't really, really know. Um it's uh it's a tough situation, it's a tough situation, and and I think that the quiet gets filled with noise from elsewhere, and that doesn't really help, which is I think you know, we I spoke about in one of the the previous shows of of not wanting to put false noise and false hope into the the Sheffield Wednesday space, so I don't think it's helpful. Um, and yeah, I I think that's where we are at now is that we can give the information we can give, but I don't think it's on any of us as the media to say, well, this is definitely gonna happen, this is definitely not gonna happen because the the amount of moving parts in this is is absolutely it's yeah, it's incredible. Um we've got something from Ollie here saying, Do you think the EFL will sculp the deal as they sanction it, as if they sanction it, they'll have a fight on the hand that hands that they don't want. I don't think so. I I think as much as there is you know, a lot of people have have been concerned about the EFL stance on Sheffield Wednesday, there is there is no vendetta against against Sheffield Wednesday. I know that people have their issues and their the conspiracies, but the the idea that there's this vendetta and that the EFL or people within the EFL won't want Sheffield Wednesday to to die is just yeah, I I just don't I don't see it. And that they will want to um and I don't say this in a negative way, they will want to wash their hands of the Sheffield Wednesday situation as soon as possible because um yeah, the the it's this is no fun for anybody. It's no fun for us, it's no fun for the fans, it's no fun for the EFL, or you know, you you look at even her eyes who are look looking at this new venture that they're moving into, it's no fun for them. This that the the the joy and the enjoyment that they'll get will be for making this football club better. Everything that comes beforehand is just a pain in the arse, really. All of this is um yeah, just just difficulties that that nobody really wants to to deal with. Um, we've got something here from from Rich for Peru. James Ellis, who left Arsenal in February, has been named by Football League World. Seems like wishful thinking. Um I don't know the name James Ellis in terms of Wednesday perspective. As I mentioned earlier, I do think this is going into something from from Mark as well. Um about sporting director. I don't even know if this a sporting director is a definite route that they're going to go down yet. I know that a CEO, uh, as as we reported with with David Bruce, is something they're looking to do, but I don't know regarding a sporting director in League One, for instance, if that's a route they're looking to be taking. So yeah, we'll we'll have to wait and see on that one. I think we'll we'll we'll see more um a little bit further down the line. Um we've got another question here from David saying, uh, if your Irish group takeover, have you heard any of the plans in terms of the training ground? Not in terms of direct improvements to the training ground, in terms of specifics. I know they're looking to improve the training ground. Um I know that as I reported earlier in the week with with George Brown's injury, I think it was another not a way put call because I think everybody knew, but that it was it was another case of they are very aware that medical improvements need to be made. Wednesday have had, you know, we look, I remember chatting to Darren Moore, to to Gary Munk, to all these different managers at Wednesday about the injury problems that Wednesday have had, and there's been investigations and there's been peaks and troughs, but ultimately there are a lot of things that are down to infrastructure at Wednesday, and they need a bigger medical team and they need best bet facilities. And and I do know that in terms of the training ground, there will be improvements made if if the arise consortium comes in medical team and medical grounds that will be improved, but also they're I know they're committed to uh to making sure that they don't fall down to to category three and the academy structure because that's a that'd be a big a big blow, and you know, uh there's a lot to go into into the category structure of of academies, but you know, you you look at the the top tier academies that uh the cat ones and cat two where Wednesday are currently is is feasible and it it works, but I think you drop down to cat three and it also all becomes very, very difficult. So yeah, there's a I I know that they are working to again if they come in, they're working to make sure that that Wednesday don't drop down to to category three because that would be uh yeah, that'd be a really big blow to the recruitment that they do and the sort of players that they can um they can get in. Um we got something here from John Birch saying, even Joe, do you think that the FLR of Stop Mendetta against Wednesday? Uh now I I I think it's I think it's easy to to sort of lay that blame at the door of sorry, it's getting a bit parsed talking for 36 minutes. Um people do lay the the the sort of the blame at the door of the AFL and I I think in many ways they've had a bit of a you know they've had a a short straw with a lot of what they could have done. I I don't think that um you know they I don't think they're blameless, I don't think they're faultless in the way things have gone about in the way they've gone about things, but I also don't think that they there's this vendetta and this this desire to see Sheffield Wednesday collapse. Um I think we've yeah that they're they're in a difficult position as well, and I think there has to be an element of sympathy is probably the wrong word, but an element of understanding for everything that's trying to be navigated and worked through and and figured out in this whole period because ultimately Wednesday are uh um since all of these things have been put in place, no one's ever fallen foul of them. You know, Wednesday are the the guinea pig in all of this, and they're except they're just trying to figure out a lot um at this point, and unfortunately, Sheffield Wednesday at the at the forefront of of all of that. Um we've got something there from those saying wait and see is our motto. You're not wrong, mate. You're not wrong at all. I um I wish it wasn't, but that is that is where we're at. Um we've got another one from Curt here saying, um, do you think feel it's wise for a rise to engage in a deal away from the appropriate channels? I know DC reported was reported to be unhappy with admins. In my opinion, I don't feel it wise to deal with the devil separately. Um that's a tough one. Um I think you know, people have been burnt with dealing with Chansey in the past, um, dealing directly with him. So it that that one is is very uh very difficult to answer. Um I think it's they will people the people involved in all of this will be dealing with um or looking into all the different uh options that are available to them. So yeah, well in in that sense, I I don't think there's an uh a I suppose a negative or a positive to looking at different routes into this. Wednesday needs to try and find a way to get through this, and I think all of those options and all those channels should be should be explored. Um something there from Nat saying is is Pedderson confirmed as manager next season. Uh look, no one can confirm anything because we don't technically have any owners yet. You know, the Henry Pederson has a contract into next season and and by virtue of that would need to be given a payout if he was to be relieved of his of his duties. Um, you know, based on the conversations that I've had and my conversation with with Henrik as well, you know, Henrik expects to be at Wednesday next season. Um we'll have to work, we'd have to sort of wait and and see what happens with uh the takeover side of things, but by all accounts, they are they are looking for at Henrik as the person to to to sort of lead things forward, uh especially in the you know going into next season. I think we uh yeah, we're what with with with Henrik, I I mean I think I've given my thoughts on him before and his his future at Wednesday. I really do think given what he's dealt with and the shit he's had to put up with a check at Wednesday, I think he deserves a he deserves a fair a fair crack. Uh question from Paul here Does the IFR have any input in the matter as uh following the progress? The IFR are sort of like floating in the background at the moment. Um they have my my understanding is that they have um an ability to uh I suppose discuss things and and and have some input, but they don't have any specific powers at this point. Obviously, that that will change in May when the crossover happens. So yeah, I don't think we'll be seeing um sort of them put their foot down on anything or or change things in that sense, but yeah, they are uh that they are aware of everything that's going on, they have been following the progress, and they obviously are, you know, given that they will take uh take things to a next level over the summer, they would they would they would hate to be in a position where they were um even semi-in-charge for uh the the downfall of a football club like Sheffield Wednesday. So I think if anything was was really getting bad, they would they would possibly try and try and step in on that front. Uh we've got something here about uh about Carlos. So Carlos then talks about yesterday showing his love for us. How many here would have him back? I think that's an interesting question, actually, with with Carlos. You know, he he was he was uh uh he was you know one of the first through the door at Wednesday after after Chanceri took over. It was really good, then it was quite good, and then it got a little bit bad. And I I'm not sure for me personally, I'm not sure that going back to that is uh the most prudent of ideas. You know, you have a very, very good spell that went a little bit sour. Um I'm not sure that as much as I had you know a great time as a fan watching Carlson went into teams. I'm not sure that bringing him back uh in a in a new guys in League One, I'm not sure that's it's the right thing to the right thing to go. Um I think we're done. We've done way longer than I expected to do. We've had some great questions. Hopefully, I've answered as as much as I can and I've given you a bit of insight into to where things are at at Wednesday. Um thank you very much for um subscribing to the Wednesday Word so far. Anyone who's who's got involved in that, anyone who's read the articles or shared the stuff on social, you guys are unreal. Um and I like say I can't describe how much it means to me that you've you've been part of this this family so far. If you have got any more questions, send them through to me on Twitter, send them through on in the comments after we've finished this live. If you want to get in touch with me by the Wednesday Word.com, you can do that as well. And yeah, I think yeah, one of the things I did want to say is if you've got anything that you want me to report on in terms of interviews you'd like me to do or um features you'd like me to put together, then please just reach out. That that's what this is for. This is for you guys. So if there's anything um if there's anything you want to do or want me to do, should I say, then I'm happy to try and help out. Um, I've got a question there from from Anthony there about will this be regularly on Thursdays? Potentially, I think it'll be in and out. You know, I'm a I'm a one man band here, so it'll depend on on. My schedule. I'm looking to do a show every Wednesday. One Wednesday it'll be me talking about the latest going on at Wednesday and what's happening. The next Wednesday it'll be a guest. So we have David Stockdale who was on this week, who you should definitely go check out if you haven't yet, because he's he's great. And then every now and again, especially if something like this happens, we'll you know I'll try and put together a live and answer as many questions as I can. So yeah, um stick around, subscribe to the channel, you know, follow along with everything I'm doing. And yeah, again, your support means the absolute world. So thank you very, very much. Um yeah, hopefully there's a brighter future ahead for Shiffy Wednesday and it's not too far away. All the best.