The administrators running Sheffield Wednesday say they received an extraordinary enquiry from the owners of Sheffield United about a possible deal to merge the two rival clubs.
Wednesday is up for sale after former owner Dejphon Chansiri put the club into administration last month, triggering an automatic 12-point Championship deduction. The asking price is believed to be in excess of £30m.
Sky Sports News has been told an email was sent to the administrators claiming to come from COH Sports, the American group that owns United, asking about Wednesday’s asking price and for detailed information on Hillsborough’s finances and assets. It is possible the enquiry was a spoof; COH Sports had not commented to Sky Sports News when contacted for clarification.
COH Sports is led by co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy. Rosen is founder and chairman of Resilience Capital Partners; Eltoukhy chairs biotech firm Guardant Health.
The idea of the two Sheffield clubs joining would anger supporters on both sides of a rivalry stretching more than 130 years. Begbies Traynor, the administrators handling Wednesday’s sale, are pursuing the process with five prospective buyers — none of whom are COH Sports.
Both the EFL and the new Football Regulator have made clear such a merger would not be permitted.
COH Sports took full control of Sheffield United’s men’s and women’s teams in December. They had publicly ambitious goals of returning the club to the Premier League. United were three points clear at the top of the Championship when the consortium took over; they are now third-bottom and in relegation places. United beat Wednesday 3-0 in the Steel City Derby, live on Sky Sports, on Sunday.
COH Sports responded via a statement on United’s official website from Rosen and Eltoukhy, saying they remain “committed to the badge.” The statement described the derby win as a needed boost, expressed disappointment at the start to the season, and said they were confident that with supporter backing and targeted additions they would climb the table. It added that bringing regular Premier League football to Sheffield United is the owners’ purpose and that they are working to modernise the club to compete.