Sheffield Wednesday takeover progress, Chansiri dialogue and EFL hopes

Join our host, Joe Crann, as he talks through the latest takeover news at Sheffield Wednesday, discussing the growing confidence as Arise remain in dialogue with the EFL and Dejphon Chansiri.

He also speaks to Liam Palmer about an upcoming charity event, answers some of your questions, and discusses his thoughts on plans for next season.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I think that's a bit of a cheat code in this morning. Still be at the net and I think he'll get Marvel doing all his running in behind, but I'm not giving away too many tactics just yet.

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Word Show. Thanks very much for joining us today. Hopefully, you've enjoyed some of the stuff we've had on the website this week. And yeah, just thought I'd chat about everything that's happened at Shoppiel Wednesday. It's been another busy week on the Wednesday front. Asked for a few questions from you guys, so I'll talk a little bit of takeover and then I'll get on to those questions and answering them for you. Takeover latest, I did a piece yesterday just on where things are at on that front. I suppose there was a question from Wednesday Steve over on Twitter. So this is kind of for him. The main takeaway, I think, was that there is now a growing confidence that the takeover could be completed by May 1st. That was the date that arise and David Storch and the consortium had in mind. There's a good reason for that with the independent football regulator taking over in May, and it it changes the way that the process works. There's a I suppose a fear of the unknown in terms of how long it'll take with the IFR compared to the owners and directors tests with the EFL. So that is something that they're desperate to try and do. And one of the reasons why May 1st is such a big one for them, I think obviously worth saying as well that they'd quite like to be in by the time that West Brom game happens because the uh the atmosphere for that match is going to be unbelievable. Really looking forward to to being there for that one. And I think with with the the positivity that's sort of flowing through Wednesday at the moment and the hope that's that's flowing through the football club, that day, if they are able to get it done in time, could be you know something pretty pretty special. On top of the the the confidence that's that's growing, the I understand there's also dialogues happening between the the consortium and and the EFL, the consortium and Day Ponchan Siri as well. Um the lengths of that, uh of how well that's going, obviously not not sure at this point in time. But yeah, we do, you know, I do understand that there's this conversation happening uh and that there's positivity on, I suppose, on all fronts arise. The consortium have sort of, you know, they've already reported that they're willing to pay the 25p on the pound to the non-football creditors, the people that are owed money that aren't Chansey, um, which is obviously that will, I think the the hope is that that will help their case with with the EFL and and maybe get some leniency on on that front. It's it would be a really nice thing to be able to do. You know, there's a lot of people that uh erode bits of money and because of the the mismanagement of Chansey before, and if they can get to a position where they're able to pay those guys, and like I say, I think that'd be a real real show of of good faith on on their part. Worth saying, obviously, uh with with all the caveats at the moment, it's it's not done. Um there's still a way to go on on certain elements of it. But like I said, the main takeaway is that there is a growing confidence that they can get something done by me first. There is, like I say, there's talks happening over the the minus 15, there's talks happening over the wage cap, there's talks happening over the the fee restriction as well. But yeah, that's the the basic gist of the the takeover talk at the moment. That's kind of where we're at. Could be a big week, you know, given that there's uh there's only a week or so left of April. Um, May 1st and May 2nd with that West Brom game could be a very, very big week indeed. So yeah, on to your questions. Thanks for everybody to for sending them in. First up, we've got one from from Jake Summerfield here. With the new ownership coming in and what it looks, what looks like the long, short, medium term plans. Um, if you'd like to see a roadmap, where would you like it to start with? I think they've got to get everything right, you know, in infrastructure-wise. Obviously, that they they're going to have to kick on with contracts and you know, the the future, the immediate future of the football team, because you know, as things stand, Wednesday have only got I think nine contracted players going into next season. So obviously there's options that they will will need to be trying to take, you know, people like George Brown and Ernie Weaver and people like that. You know, I understand there's a potentially an option on Liam Palmer's contract as well. So these are all decisions that they'll they'll they're gonna have to make uh in in the very early stages of of taking over if if it does happen. But yeah, after that, I think you know they they've spoken. You know, David Storch has spoken about the the problems at Hillsborough, you know, whether it's the the electrics, whether it's the water. There's a lot of stuff that they want to get sorted for the start of of next season. So yeah, I think that's that's where the the where we'll start. You know, obviously there's they've already done work with uh with getting a CEO um with with David Bruce, if if you know, if if that goes through, you know, there's talk of a sporting director as well. So yeah, the there's a few different bits that uh they've got their hands in the fire, so to speak. But yeah, I think I think there's a a few little wins that Wednesday fans would like to see. And you know, fixing up the the stadium over the over the summer would be a big help, you know, the stadium, the training ground, the megastore. I know these are all sort of big priorities for him. I've got a question here from from Stephen Lunn. Is is Henrik's position safe or will this be decided by the new sporting director when he starts? Obviously, we can't say anything definitively because you know, right now nothing is definitive. There isn't a takeover that's happened, but all indications at this point are that Henrik Henrik Peterson will continue in his his job as manager of Sheffield Wednesday. Um, by all accounts, the people the the the important people have have been impressed by what they've heard from Henrik, um, and I think they've also been impressed with the leadership that he's he's shown in in very, very difficult circumstances this year. Another question from James Howlett a lot has been said about the likely minus 15 points penalty next season. One thing that still remains unclear is the rumour the FL imposed salary cap for new sign-ins. Do you have any more information on that? That is something that negotiations are still happening on. Uh obviously, the the consortium arise want as clean a slate as possible. You know, whether that is a you know a case of uh getting 15 the minus 15 got rid of altogether, having a few of it, a few of the points taken away, you know, increasing the wage cap, having a little alteration to the fee restriction, these are all still things that are being discussed. Um, as I said, I think there is some positivity around a lot of it, but obviously there's there's nothing agreed, there's nothing finalised, and you know, until this takeover is done, um, I don't think we'll we're gonna get a definitive answer on that front. Question here from Showstopper 571 on Twitter is there any early indication from either the club or player of which players are looking at leaving and which could be willing to stay following relegation? I genuinely feel, and this is not a a cop-out answer. I think until the takeover's done, it's very difficult to say because you know, the there are players that I think would be willing to stick around and fight, whether they're in the plans of the you know, the people that take over, Henrik, all that kind of stuff. I think it all all depends on what they can and can't do next season. You know, you look at if there are restrictions with with incomings in terms of fees, in terms of um salaries and wages, like these are all things that that play a big part in this, and it might be a case of um you know, some people stay in one circumstance but don't in another. Um, one player I do know that that will be moving on is is Rio Shipston. I did a piece on that um earlier this week, and and Rio is it's you know, Rio's been at Sheffield Winesley since he was seven years old, so he's you know 14 years at the football club, hasn't really broken through this year, but you know, I I I've watched Rio for for many years. I remember Darren Moore speaking very highly of him when he sort of had his debut season when he started playing the first team a little bit. Uh, and I and I've no doubt that that Rio will find himself something very, very soon because he's a he's a very good little player, did a did a good job out at Cork City when he was out on loan there. Um, but yeah, Rio's the only one that I know that is uh is currently going to be moving on. I think there are still plenty of decisions to be made. Um, in terms of the guys that have got options, I think it's the the third Saturday in May, those options have to be exercised by. So, you know, you're looking at Ernie and Liam Palmer and George Brown, and I'm not sure if there's other options in there that we we don't know of yet, but that that they're they're sort of that's a decision that will be made a little bit closer to the time. But I would imagine given the the size of Sheffield Wednesday's squad, I I'd be surprised at this point if there wasn't a uh an option taken on those three. Uh question from Lucy Jeffkin here. It's been reported about a rise being in talks with Chanceri uh about hashing out some sort of deal to avoid the minus 15 deduction. Do you have any insights on that? Um, have been talks been positive or is he still behaving like a petulant child? I'm not gonna lie and pretend I've got any information on on the you know the actual conversations that are taking place. I'm not privy to the the the details of of those chats, but I I imagine that the Rise are just trying to put forward a deal that they feel is um fair and that they feel they'd be happy to accept. Um but look, you know, we've we've seen how difficult negotiations can be with Chansey over the years. I you know, I I I know of of of deals with non-league clubs where it's taken weeks and weeks and weeks to get done. So something as big as this, um, if they're looking to get done by May 1st, it could be a bit of a push. But look, never say never. And you know, it would be it would be brilliant from a club perspective if Chansay was to be open to doing a deal that would allow Wednesday to sort of settle the 25p on the pound and avoid that minus 15 because obviously uh you know minus 15 points next season would be a big, a big, big blow. Another question here from uh Scarf Shirt over on Twitter. Any free transfers you'd fancy for next season? Any conference players who could step up? Can Alex on come back? Because I still don't think he should have left. Honestly, and again, this is this is not me bailing on a question. I I really think that there's a there's a lot to be sorted out at Sheffield Wednesday before we can talk about players coming in. There are obviously a lot of, you know, and I know that Henrik Pederson's done a lot in terms of his research for on free agents in in League One, free agents in the championship. He's he's he's got you know his staff watching League One games, he's watching League One games. They're trying to prepare as best they can for next season. But in terms of targets and stuff, it's it's a very difficult situation that they find themselves in just because they are um they're hamstrung right now because they don't know what they're working with. I think that's probably a a key thing to know at this stage is is just that you know they are um they're they're unaware of of what they're going to have available to them. You know, we don't know about the wage cap, we don't know about the fee restriction, and I think because of that, you know, even with a free transfer, we don't know what we're going to be able to pay in in terms of getting these guys in. So yeah, I'm sure there are plenty of free transfers out there that that would fancy Sheffield Wednesday in certain circumstances and maybe not in others. So yeah, that's I suppose a very bad answer to a very feasible question. The second part about on Alex Hunt Alex has done really well at York City. You know, they're they're they're flying, it's gonna be a it's gonna be a mad, a mad final day against Rochdale. It's literally those two playing against each other, um, winner takes all sort of thing. And uh yeah, Alex has done great. He's he's really popular over at York City, and I'm chuffed about that because he's a really lovely kid and um very good footballer as well. I I I think personally, I think Sheffield Wednesday handled handled Alex's situation badly. I think he should have been out on loan a lot earlier than he was, he should have developed a lot earlier than he did because of that. Um, but in answer to your question on him coming back, I know he just signed a pretty long-term contract with with York, I think it was last year. So he I don't think he'll be available on the cheap, and especially with Wednesday's situation financially. I'd be very, very surprised. Um, I suppose a whistle stop tour through some of the other news at Wednesday this week. As I mentioned, Rio Shipson's going to be leaving after 14 years. Frank Tatsum, who has been playing, played for the 21s, he's been training with the first team a little bit. Understand he is still there or was earlier this week. I don't know about today. So he's a player that they're taking a long, hard look at ahead of his uh you know his exit from Birmingham. He Birmingham do have an option on his contract, but by all accounts, they they won't be taking it. So that could be an interesting one to keep an eye on. There's also been another couple of trialists there this week. We had Fortunono from Grimsby Town, Jack Woodcock from Barnsley. They were both in the squad for the 21s um as they they they beat Craig Alexander 3-0. Another great performance from from the the young lads who uh who you know who we've heard about so much. Will Granger got a couple, Devon Mose has got one, who's you know, his scoring form has been unbelievable. It was good to see Will Granger, 17-year-old leading out as the leading out the team as as captain. So yeah, it's uh that that's their last game of the season, so there'll be no more 21s games. Fortunano started, Jack Woodcock was on the bench, and yeah, good to see them finishing the season with uh on a high. I think it's it shows when they've got a I suppose a better team out there. You know, Will Granger came off at halftime. I imagine I think Will uh I think he's he's probably going to be featuring uh tonight against Middlesbrough. So yeah, that that's the the 21s run. Um I think another good performance from Josh Bayless as well as he looks to try and get himself a contract for next season. So yeah, generally a very positive uh positive uh outcome for the 21s in in that game. A little bit of news that we got from from the guys over at Radio Sheffield, a really good interview with former Wednesday favourite Will Valks, um, just an incredible human being. You know, he's he's won the community player of the year award at the EFL Awards again. I think it's the fourth time he's won it. And you know, if you've followed Will's story and you know the work that he's done with suicide prevention and um just general work in the community, it's absolutely no surprise to see him get the plaudits. But the bit from Radio Sheffield this week was the fact that um he won the Thief Pro Award and donated all the prize money to assist at Sheffield Wednesday looking after the the staff and the players during what's been a very difficult 12 months. And I think it just shows the the quality of him as a as a person, the the the way that he goes about his work off the pitch. You know, he doesn't do it for the the credit or the kudos, he he does it because it's it's a genuine it's a genuine passion of his to try and help people and he's he's dealt with things in his life that he wants to help people get through as well. So yeah, just a a big shout out to to Volksie. Um I've had a I've had the the honour of of spending a bit of time chatting to him over the years, and yeah, I it couldn't happen to an artificial. I'm absolutely delighted for him. Another little bit of news we've got is uh away from the footballer uh Tad, we've got a really cool charity event coming up um on May 5th. That's gonna be the uh the the Yorkshire Classico, it's been dubbed. Um and it's the you know legends from the six clubs around around Yorkshire. We've got Wednesday, we've got Chef United, we've got Leeds, Barnsley, Robram, Donny Rovers. So there's a few some you know, a few big names that are gonna be around for that. Barry Bannon, um Marvin Johnson's gonna be playing for Wednesday, Liam Cooper's gonna be captain of Leeds United. We've got Billy Sharp, we've got Brian Dean. You know, there's a few different people that are going to be uh going to be part of that. So yeah, it's gonna be an interesting um an interesting afternoon. Just to tell you a little bit more about what's going on. You know, all the money's going to to Western Park. It's a a charity, a charity event where you know they're hoping to raise uh some you know money for for a very, very good cause. Here's Liam Palmer talking a little bit more about that. Liam, got a bit of a tournament coming up, and now obviously it's been a long whole season on the pitch. Are you looking forward to to doing something for charity? It's still gonna have a bit of a competitive edge to it, I'm sure though.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Yeah, looking forward to uh yeah, something a bit different. Um, still very much a paddle beginner myself. I think that's why I've been given that. Yeah, I've been giving the uh captain's mantle to go down support today. Um yeah, the teams are in, so I'm looking forward to seeing how uh obviously the Wednesday tide gets on my side with uh Marvin Johnson plays quite a bit and Aidan Flint, so nice to see some uh ex-teammates as well. Um let's see how we get off.

SPEAKER_00 16:52

Yeah, I'm sure Aiden's got a right reach on him as well with those arms.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

I think that's a bit of a cheat code, yeah. For one, he's still be at the net. I think he'll get Marv doing all his running in behind, but I'm not giving away too many tactics just yet. I know there's uh people watching the build-up, so uh keep our cards close to our chest.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

Absolutely. Are you looking forward to it though? I mean, obviously it's uh we we all know how how good the work the Western Park does is. Um, you know, it must be really nice. I know you do a lot of work in the community, like to be able to support something like this must be really nice.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Yeah, it's really good. I think all the charities around here, you know, it's very difficult to just tone in on one, but yeah, Western Park do some fantastic work for sure. Happy to support Pete and his idea. Um, one of the coaches who thought this whole thing up. So I think it's nice that the football community has come together, you know, rivalry aside to uh, like you say, support Western Park. Um and yeah, paddles are fast-bowing sport, isn't it? Everyone wants to get involved. Um, hopefully it's it's good for the local paddle um community as well. And uh yeah, looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 17:55

You've had uh you've had some decent results over Leeds in uh in your previous uh football games. Looking forward to trying to get one over on Coops and Leeds in this one.

SPEAKER_01 18:04

I've just been speaking to Coops well, he's he's he's trying to be a bit coy, he's not really giving too much away. Um, but I think it'll be nice. I know um Matt Kilgallen as well. I think he's playing for Chef Hugh and obviously McBurney through Scotland. So there's quite a few, um there's quite a few that I'm looking forward to seeing, you know, in in not such a pressure environment. Um football pitch, obviously you play against a lot of ex-teammates and uh never really get a chance to have a proper catch-up, but it'd be nice to watch them play and and uh have a coffee and a drink after.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

Yeah, I know I know Barry's coming back as well. I mean, you you've not spent this much time away from each other for a while, I would imagine. Is it gonna be nice to nice to see Baz again?

SPEAKER_01 18:46

Yeah, well, I'm not sure if he's if he's down to play or not, or if it's first reserve, I think he's waiting to see what happens, but um I think he's a bit of a sport Billy. Baz is good at golf, he's good at um paddle as well, so he'll be option to play. Um I know William Gregory is open to play. He plays quite a bit, but he's got a bit of a paddle tonight's elbow at the minute, so he's uh he's gonna look after that. Uh but that'd be good to see all the guys really, and um hopefully this kind of event can grow, you know, from strength to strength and get more um prestigious as the years go by, and you never know it might end up in uh Sheffield Arena, like a bit of a mast, you know, chuck a little paddle caught up, and uh that'd be really good to go around the different areas of the country and then and grow it for um for charity and and and yeah, to support the causes that you know around the country. But yeah, starting off here in Sheffield, which is always nice. We like to start off uh football tradition, so um yeah, why not paddle?

SPEAKER_00 19:44

Yeah, like you said earlier, it's it's nice to see so many people coming together, you know, to to get six Yorkshire clubs all getting involved. It's uh it's a really nice element, innit?

SPEAKER_01 19:53

It always it is, and I think like I said, rivalry on the pitch and a lot of players have will know and have played against each other for many, many years. Um and I think everybody's a competitor, and I think you never lose that. So I do think it will be very serious when the games are on, and obviously people are desperate to win. There's always going to be that element to it, even though it's a for charity. But I think yeah, the bragging rights will definitely be at stake.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yeah, absolutely. And just just lastly, just a word on on Western Park. I know, like I said, you you do a lot of work with various different people, but Western Park are uh a charity that that get a lot of recognition and and rightly so, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:36

Yeah, of course. And I think whenever you go up there and you meet you meet people that have had their you know their services, you never know what to really expect. But I think going up there and um spending time with patients and and workers, um, you get to see firsthand, you know, the the work that they do on a daily basis, and anything we can do as as footballers with you know with a platform to do to do good, and and even if it's a video message for someone that's there or spending, you know, having a go and having a coffee with someone, um, yeah, I think uh everybody's always keen to help and and support in in any way we can. Um not as footballers, but as as you know, if we can make someone's day and put a smile on their face, then I think uh yeah, we'll be happy to do so.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

So that was Liam Palmer talking about the Yorkshire Classico over at Club the Paddle over in Neeps End on May 5th. It's gonna be a really good day out. I'll be down there hoping to catch up with a few different Wednesday players. I think Lee Gregory's gonna be around as well, Aiden Flint. So yeah, should be an excellent day. If you um if you want to go check that out, there's a there's a story on it on uh the Wednesdayword.com, uh the link to get the tickets you can find in there. So yeah, should be uh should be a fantastic afternoon down there. And just before we wrap up, I suppose we should talk about the the game that's happening uh Wednesday away at Middlesbrough tonight. Uh it's gonna be a tough old game, especially with the fact that um you know Middlesbrough still have so much to play. For um Wednesday are potentially going to be out without Svante Ingelson again. You know, his meniscus problem in his knee. It could be one that they they decide not to risk him for the rest of the season. We'll have to wait and see. I'm sure we'll hear from Henrik after that. But you know, no fresh injury concerns for Wednesday on that front. But yeah, I think it's going to be a difficult game. Um difficult game against Borough. Um obviously Wednesday on a little three-game uh unbeaten run. We won't talk about the winless run because that feels overly negative at this point in time. But yeah, the Wednesday have put in some strong performances late there. They'll fancy the chances of frustrating Borough. But yeah, over at the riverside, it's going to be a big ask. Hopefully, we can see some um some strong strong performances out there from Wednesday, um, and they can continue trying to finish the season on a high and and try and get to that zero points before the season's done. I think that's pretty much it. There's a there's a piece that I really enjoyed writing over on the site as well about Piers Charles. I spoke to Nikki Weaver, I spoke to David Stockdale about his rise and the sort of the early days of his time at Sheffield Wednesday. There's a great picture of him as a as a child during his days at Man City as well, which is uh is good for a laugh. Really interesting story in there about a time when he he broke his finger basically and was unable to uh was unable to go in goal because of it. And uh they they were very much on the brink of using him as a midfielder uh in in a game for the 18s because he he was so good, they say in possession drills and you know passing drills, he was always the best player there. He was winning head tennis tournaments and yeah, they just said that if it wasn't for the fact that they worried about him getting injured, they might have actually used him as a midfielder during one of their games then. Um but yeah, if you go check that out, hopefully uh hopefully you enjoy that. There's a few other nice bits and bats over on on the Wednesdayword.com as well. So check that out. Let me know what you think, and I'll speak to you very, very soon. Thanks for watching.