The battle for Sheffield Wednesday is shaping into a two-horse race, with a preferred bidder expected to be selected in the near future.
Daily Mail Sport previously reported that three parties were in for the troubled Championship club.
However, it is understood that there are concerns over the funding involved with one of the groups – which includes a former poker player whose consultancy firm list Sheffield United among its clients – and a view that their offer could potentially struggle to satisfy the demands of the EFL’s Owners and Directors Test.
Should that prove to be the case, it would leave former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and a consortium made up of Americans John McEvoy and the Storch family in the running to take over at Hillsborough.
And, according to those with knowledge of the situation, one of those two could be selected to enter a period of exclusivity in the coming days with Friday afternoon highlighted as a potential cut-off point, although Monday could be more realistic.
It is thought that the highest bid, understood to be north of £30m, was made by a group led by James Bord, whose AI and data company has advised the Blades and who also owns Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic.
However, a fear that, with time precious, such an offer could well face hurdles at the EFL, is thought to be playing a role in the process which is being led by the administrators Begbies Traynor.
McEvoy, who has a number of stakes in various sports franchises, and the Chicago-based Storch family are also in the frame and theirs is thought to be the second-highest bid.
While Ashley’s offer is currently thought to be the lowest, he has proven wealth and a clear source of funding. It is highly unlikely that in the event the Sports Direct tycoon is chosen any red flags would be raised by the league.
According to this year’s Sunday Times Rich List, Ashley is worth £3.12bn and has increased his share in Hugo Boss to close to 20 per cent.
Ashley has also lifted his stake in online outfit Boohoo, while his Frasers Group owns high-street chains including Flannels and House of Fraser.
A meeting with McEvoy is scheduled for today. Wednesday went into administration in October following the disastrous reign of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri.
The historic club had struggled to pay wages on time on several occasions and have been the subject of various EFL sanctions.
After a summer of cost-cutting in which the manager left and the squad was decimated, they currently find themselves certainties for relegation to League One, on minus nine points following 18 points-worth of deductions.
Given the size of fanbase and vast potential, with many viewing the Owls as the biggest club outside the Premier League, the level of current interest may come as a surprise to some.
