Dave Richards, who had expressed an interest in buying Sheffield Wednesday, is considering re-entering the battle to buy the financially stricken Championship club if its purchase price falls below \u00a330m, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.<\/p>\n
A lifelong supporter of The Owls, Richards was among the favourites to seize control of Hillsborough before expressing concern that the administrators now overseeing its day to day affairs following Dejphon Chansiri\u2019s departure had placed too high a value on its remaining squad members and property holdings.<\/p>\n
Despite publicly criticising the sale process orchestrated by Kris Wigfield, who is the most public of the team from Begbies Traynor tasked with finding the best person to take Wednesday forward, sources last night told SportsBoom that Richards has not completely lost interest in becoming their new owner after concluding that not even the consortium which has been granted preferred bidder status will stump up the \u00a330m Wigfield has demanded.<\/p>\n
If they do, he also believes they could struggle to pass all of the tests the English Football League are demanding Chansiri\u2019s successor must pass before being handed the keys to one of their best known members.<\/p>\n
James Bord, the professional poker player who previously advised Sheffield United\u2019s board of directors on recruitment, is now in pole position to take charge of The Owls after the group of investors he has assembled received the green light from Wigfield to press ahead and enter into exclusive negotiations.<\/p>\n
However, the identities of those backing the American who also has a holding in Dunfermiline remains a closely guarded secret for now – another potential red flag as far as Richards, who made his fortune in the States after leaving South Yorkshire, and his associates are concerned.<\/p>\n