SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY’s potential new owners have declared plans to become “way bigger than Wrexham” with a new 55,000-seater stadium.
Florida property investor John Flanagan and Sheffield-born businessman Adam Shaw, also based in the USA, front a consortium looking to buy the Owls from current owner Dejphon Chansiri.
It’s believed the group of 16 people who make up the consortium contains an ex-Premier League star, a major celebrity and several pro baseball stars – both past and present.
Talks are ongoing over a price for Wednesday, who finished 12th in the Championship this season and are struggling with finances after Chansiri stopped his investment.
The Thai businessman has already turned down an offer of £48million.
But a breakthrough could be close following fresh negotiations.
And Wednesday’s prospective new owners have now given an insight into their plans for the club.
They declared that as the second-oldest pro club in English football, the Owls will be brought back to the top of the perch.
A new 55,000-seater stadium, to replace current 34,000-seater home Hillsborough, and an elite academy are part of the proposal to return Wednesday to the Premier League – which they helped found in 1992.
And after seeing Wrexham’s success under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wednesday’s hopeful proprietors insisted that the Owls should be “way bigger” than the Welsh club.
Lifelong fan Shaw told The Athletic: “Sheffield Wednesday are nowhere in America. We sell zero shirts and have no commercial presence there – that’s got to change.
“With the World Cup in the US next year and with the individuals we have in our ownership group, we could easily become Florida’s English football team.
“We should and can be way bigger than Wrexham. Ryan Reynolds would give his left leg to have what we already have at Wednesday in terms of our history and fanbase. Let’s use that.”
As well as boosting Wednesday’s academy, the consortium are also eyeing a brand new 55,000-seater stadium.
Shaw added: “We wouldn’t do anything without consulting the fans, but we think the club should have a home where people can park more easily and have up-to-date facilities.
“If we want to create a culture that ensures we become a sustainable, competitive and successful Premier League side, then we must be proactive. Premier League clubs are all upgrading their stadiums.”
