Asher Simons

Husband to Laura & President of CAA Executive Search. Opinions are my own

[Asher Simons @ashersimons]

@storchyowl @michaelestorch Thx @storchyowl

It’s been a journey! So proud of all the work to this point, and so much more good news and hard work still to come! #wawaw

[EFL @EFL]

The people have spoken! 🗣️

@swfc's remarkable comeback in the 2023 @SkyBet League One Play-Off Semi-Final has been voted as the greatest #EFLPlayOffs match of all time! 👏

#EFL | #EveryMinuteMatters

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

💬 "I can genuinely say he is one of the most impressive men I have met and he has my full confidence as we take this journey together.”

David Storch welcomes the Owls' Chief Executive Officer David Bruce to S6.

[Wednesday Warehouse @wedwarehouse1]

Just passing reception entrance and this is hung on the gates 💙🦉#swfc 🇺🇸⭐️

#SheffieldWednesday
#football
#museum
#Kelhamisland

https://t.co/s6MkaE5ONE

[Michael Storch @michaelestorch]

Really feeling the blues today sat on my flight back to Chicago after one of the best days of my life on Saturday. Wishing we could do it all over again.
I’ll never forget the welcome you, the fans, gave to me and my family. Getting to meet so many of you was so much fun.

After a long and tough process, I want to thank my dad and business partner @storchyowl for believing in this and finding a way. When many could not see a path forward, he kept pushing us all to find it.

We had some great meetings with David Bruce and Henrik this week and there really is just so much to do but I’m incredibly energized.

This is going to be an awesome journey. I’ll be back soon!

#uto #wawaw

[Football Heaven @footballheaven]

The full video as David Storch & Arise Capital were introduced to Sheffield Wednesday fans on the pitch… and it was revealed on the big screen that #SWFC won’t face a points deduction next season

[Arif Ahmed @ArifAhmedITV]

🔵Administrators have picked the right people.
🔵Massive to start next season on 0 points
🔵 Owners want to get club & infrastructure back where it needs to be.

Watch: @swfc captain Liam Palmer tells me it's exciting times ahead now there's new owners at the club. #swfc

[Kris Wigfield @kr62209]

Apologies in advance - this is a long one.

Now that the transaction is complete, I wanted to take a moment to thank the people who made what many thought was impossible… possible.

This has been one of the most complex, demanding and important processes I’ve ever been involved in. It simply does not get done without a huge number of people going above and beyond.

A few key aspects defined whether this club had a future:

1. Bringing S3 Limited into Administration alongside the Club -
This allowed us to market and sell the Club and stadium together. Without it, the outcome could have been terminal.
Thank you to New Avenue Projects for working with us to make this happen.

2. Funding the Club through the process
Cash was critical.
To the fans - thank you. You backed the Club when it mattered most, buying tickets and merchandise in huge numbers.
To the individual who loaned £1 million - incredible support at a critical time.
And to Henrik Pedersen - for his understanding and leadership when difficult football decisions had to be made.

3. Securing the outcome with the EFL
A huge amount of work went into finding a solution that worked for all parties and protected the Club’s future.
I want to thank a colleague (who would absolutely want to remain anonymous) for the creativity, technical expertise and, quite frankly, one of the most effective pieces of work I’ve ever seen in delivering a solution everyone could get behind.

A number of advisers were outstanding:

Wiggin LLP — David Hinchliffe and team. Relentless, often working through the night.

Freeths (Sheffield Insolvency Team) - led by Oliver Jackson, assisting throughout but crucial in the final weeks.

MD Law - Matthew Dixon (despite his football allegiances…), stepping in to solve a late-stage issue.

BTG Eddisons, BTG Insurance Services & BTG Forensics - supporting throughout.

Shorts Accountants - Scott Burkinshaw and team on tax.

⸻

My BTG team - quite simply exceptional.
Jo Hammond, Mark Weekes, Paul Stanley, Julian Pitts, Phil Stone, Karis Cordery, Ben, Aidan, Niamh, Harry and many others.
And the wider Sheffield office who picked up the slack while we lived and breathed Hillsborough for six months.

⸻

The Sheffield Wednesday staff have been nothing short of incredible.

Henrik Pedersen - one of the best leaders and people I’ve worked with. We were competitive throughout - that’s down to him.

Lindsey - “Mrs Sheffield Wednesday”. Tireless.
‘Stan’ - Mr Safety. Outstanding.
Rob, Louise, James and so many more behind the scenes.

I also want to mention Trevor Braithwaite and Alastair Wilson. Both have taken unfair criticism. They did their jobs professionally in extremely difficult circumstances, and the Club would not have functioned without them.

James Wheelhouse - for answering our SOS when appointed and keeping the IT infrastructure together under real pressure.

⸻

A few others who played important roles:

Lee Strafford - trusted counsel throughout.
Alex Miller and Rob Staton - responsible journalism when it mattered.
Lee Wildgoose, Matt Bruce, Chris Cotterill and many more.

From the Trust - James Silverwood, Rob Brooke, Steven Chu.

And finally, Asher Simons - he was on the other side of the deal but was a huge driving force and without a Wednesday fan either side, I’m not sure it would have got done.I’m proud to now call him a friend.

⸻

This has been a collective effort - but one driven by a clear objective from day one:
to protect Sheffield Wednesday and give it a future.

There is still a lot of work ahead (thankfully not for me 😀)

But today, the Club has stability, a new owner, and a real platform to move forward.

WAWAW

[Asher Simons @ashersimons]

@storchyowl @swfc Doesn’t feel like work when it’s on behalf of truly great people to save the club that I love. So proud to have been a part of it. #reborn2026 #wawaw

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Wanted to take some time to reflect on a day I’ve been dreaming of for months.

Saturday was perfect. Will never be able to express how grateful I am for the warm welcome the @SWFC fans gave my family and me. The sun shone down on our wonderful club on Saturday.

It was the experience of a lifetime to enjoy the moment with you all…. To share our new crest designed by the incredible local agency Peter and Paul…. To share the news that after an incredible collaborative effort between my team, the @EFL and BTG we will start next season on zero points!…. To introduce you to our incredible new CEO, David Bruce…. And to witness over 30,000 of my newest friends singing for 99 minutes straight as our Owls closed out such a difficult season with a win.

I’d like to further highlight how grateful I am to the @EFL for their diligence and approach in working with us to ratify all issues and achieve our target of closing by 1 May.

It takes a village; but without the commitment and tenacity of Asher Simons, Clive Betts MP and James Silverwood in particular, we would not be where we are today.

It’s been an extremely emotional 48 hours for me after a long process, but now the focus is already completely on action. We are proceeding ahead immediately on all fronts and we will update you, the fans, as we go.

You are the reason Michael and I are here, the reason we have fallen in love with this city and this club. We will do everything in our power to ensure we don’t let you down.

David

#wawaw #uto #swfc

[Asher Simons @ashersimons]

@kr62209 Mate, it was an absolute pleasure. You were the height of professionalism and I’m not sure anyone will truly understand just what you went through to help get this done. I’ll be forever grateful.

We won’t let you down.

#wawaw

[Nick De Marco KC @nickdemarco_]

Very pleased to have assisted David Storch and his consortium in the takeover of Sheffield Wednesday FC.

Completing the transaction in time for the start of May, and enabling the Club to compete next season without a 15-point deduction, is an excellent outcome.

A great deal of work went into this, and many people contributed. In particular: David and his investors; Asher at CAA; Keir and his team at Charles Russell; the SWFC Supporters Trust; Clive Betts MP; John and the Club staff; Kris and the team at Begbies; David and his team at Wiggin; and the EFL Executive.
Sheffield Wednesday is a historic club with a remarkable fan base. It has been a privilege to play a small part in what is, I hope, the start of its return. 

I look forward to getting to a match next season!

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

Big day tomorrow... 🥂

[Kris Wigfield @kr62209]

And that’s a wrap folks!

Sold out! 🦉

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Back in the States now, reflecting on an unbelievable week in Sheffield…. on behalf of Michael, Tom and myself, I want to thank the wonderful city of Sheffield, the local members of the community we met, the Supporters’ Trust and the Sheffield Wednesday fans for making us feel so incredibly welcome.

We are listening to and collaborating with talented Wednesdayites across the city to ensure we deliver a best in class fan experience. Whilst we continue to work diligently to become stewards of this unique and historic club, please know that we will be doing everything we can in the interest of a “Better Wednesday” and a brighter future for everyone associated with Sheffield Wednesday.

See you soon!
David

#swfc #wawaw #uto @swfc @swfctrust

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, their famous name woven into the tapestry of the game. Formed in 1867, elected to the Football League in 1892, founder members of the Premier League, four times champions of England, three times winners of the FA Cup, and the League Cup once. Such honours may be far back in history but Wednesday remain a powerful force in many lives, in families, communities, in Sheffield and beyond.

It would be devastating to Wednesday supporters and deeply damaging to the reputation of English football if Wednesday lost their membership of the EFL because of the behaviour of an owner in Dejphon Chansiri who passed initial EFL ownership tests, was welcomed (let’s not forget), but turned out to be shamelessly irresponsible. Wednesday fans fear the club's existence might be at risk if the EFL imposes further punishments and restrictions that deter potential buyers.

Stronger oversight of owners is clearly required and the EFL and PL did tighten their rules in 2023. The new Independent Football Regulator will introduce a proper licensing system for clubs and better oversight of owners. Unfortunately, the IFR did not come into force early enough to prevent Wednesday's downward slide under Chansiri.

Wednesday are currently in administration and threatened with further EFL sanctions – a 15-point deduction for next season. This season's 18-point deduction all but guaranteed relegation from the Championship (confirmed on Feb 22). The League applies sanctions as punishment for debts and also as a deterrent to other clubs/owners.

The EFL emphasises it is working with all parties to “try and find a solution that can see Sheffield Wednesday continue as a member of the League....but ultimately we have to also apply the terms of the League’s insolvency policy…which seeks to balance the interests, not only of Sheffield Wednesday, but also of the other 71 clubs”.

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust, fighting hard for their club’s survival, has now released a copy of the EFL’s insolvency policy and argues that it gives the League, in the Trust’s words, “absolute discretion when determining how to deal with clubs experiencing an insolvency event”.

The Trust argues that “…further punitive sanctions risk undermining the very factors the EFL states it must consider - including the effect on supporters, the impact on the local community and the wider credibility of the league itself.

“Sheffield Wednesday supporters are not seeking advantage over other clubs. It is entirely right that all EFL clubs should be treated fairly and consistently. That principle must include Sheffield Wednesday that has already suffered enormously during a decade in which the EFL’s own regulatory oversight failed to prevent the damage that unfolded.

“We urge the EFL to apply its own guidance responsibly and ensure that the focus now is on allowing the club to recover, stabilise and move forward under new ownership. Sheffield Wednesday supporters have suffered enough.” #SWFC #EFL @SWFCTrust

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club – Update on Sale Process.

🔗 https://t.co/1yjGJ8zaov

[Arlo White @arlowhite]

In 2 weeks, @livgolf_league has dismissed doubts that emerged after a couple of exits. The Golf has been captivating. Adelaide is the best event outside the majors. Smylie is a new star. AK story is beyond belief. Rahm/Bryson possible Championship fight. Ripper win in Oz again!

[TNT Sports @tntsports]

Congratulations to Ripper Golf Club on winning the Team Championship at #LIVGolfAdelaide 💪

[LIV Golf @livgolf_league]

A DREAM start to the season for @rippergc_ 🏆🏆

#LIVGolfAdelaide