Is it today dad? A jibe often thrown at Owls supporters by their rivals in relation to numerous failed takeover bids over the past decade or so. Well today it appears as though that day has come.
Rumours surfaced last week via respected journalists in France that the owner of Lens, Hafiz Mammadov, was in advanced negotiations with Milan Mandaric regarding the purchase of Sheffield Wednesday FC.
Due to the source of these rumours and the lack of any news to the contrary coming out of Hillsborough it appeared as though this could be the real deal. Today, French sports paper L'Equipe announced on their website that Mammadov had successfully bought the Owls for a price of around 50M Euro.
Now, in a statement on the clubs official website, this deal has been confirmed, subject to Football League approval. In the statement Mr. Manadaric said he was delighted to be able to sell the club to a true football man, adding that when he took control at Wednesday he promised supporters that he would leave the club in a better position than he found it and that he would only hand the club over to a man who would be a right fit to take the club forward. It is his belief that this has been achieved.
Mr. Mammadov is quoted as saying in the statement that he is “hugely ambitious and feel the Owls match my passion and desire for success.”
The article in L'Equipe states that Milan Manadaric will remain at the club in some capacity for the time being but this was neither confirmed or denied in the official statement and the full details are yet to be revealed at this time.