Steven Atkin

[Steven Atkin @satkin2]

Benson (@borderonwheels), you special little boy. You brought so much joy and inspiration to our lives. We’ll be forever grateful for the time we got to spend with you. We wish we had more time, but did what was right for you because we loved you. Love you forever xx 💔 #btposse

[Lord Benson 🌈 @borderonwheels]

BENSON 🌈

My Boy, My World

19/2/2006 - 22/7/2022 💔

Please click on photo to read.

#BTPOSSE #WHEELSRULE #NOLIMITS #ABILITY #INSPIRATION #DOGSOFTWITTER #LOVENEVERDIES

[Rob Staton @robstaton]

When Germany won the World Cup in 2014, they scored four goals in their first game against a highly respected opponent, then drew with Ghana in their second game.

[Scuderia Ferrari HP @ScuderiaFerrari]

P1!!!!!! @LewisHamilton 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Scuderia Ferrari HP @ScuderiaFerrari]

LEWIS HAMILTON’S FIRST VICTORY FOR FERRARI!! 🔥

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

The highest number of Season Tickets sold at Hillsborough! 🥳

Remarkable support, thank you! 👏 🦉

[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

[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

[Joe Crann @YesWeCrann]

We’re so back. #SWFC 🦉⚽️

[Steven Atkin @satkin2]

Look like that reaction got to him. #wawaw #swfc https://t.co/b3mplWLI3c

[Steven Atkin @satkin2]

What a moment #swfc

[Second Tier podcast @secondtierpod]

Cost of sacking Liam Rosenior: £24m

Cost of buying Sheffield Wednesday: £20m

When sacking a manager costs more than a club in the Championship, it's probably time to start addressing those financial oblivion questions in football.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

The man who wants to rescue Sheffield Wednesday, American businessman David Storch, says he has been “informed that a 15-point penalty is set to be imposed at the start of next season” in League One. The outgoing owner Dejphon Chansiri should hang his head in shame at the damage he has inflicted on Sheffield Wednesday. He can’t have a conscience. Otherwise he’d accept a compromise on bid price. 

The EFL should have been tougher with Chansiri quicker. The FA should remember it is supposed to be custodians of the game and protect clubs. The importance of an Independent Football Regulator, much delayed by vested interests, is highlighted again by events at Wednesday. 

At the moment, the people being punished at Wednesday are fans, players, staff and the man who wants to save them. Shameful situation engulfing a historic club which could have been avoided with stronger leadership by the authorities. And Chansiri locating some principles. #SWFC

[Steven Atkin @satkin2]

#FairDealForWednesday

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Please see my statement attached #FairDealForWednesday

[Kris Wigfield @kr62209]

Tickets are flying out today!

The North Stand has SOLD OUT already

It looks highly likely that our end of season match will be a capacity crowd.

Incredible support yet again 👏 🦉

[Sophy Ridge @SophyRidgeSky]

Went on a bit of a rant on telly comparing how Chelsea & Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt with

[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

[Lord Benson 🌈 @borderonwheels]

Just because …… he was the best boy! 🎾

[The Posh Women @theposhwomen]

Amelia Penfold has been included in today's matchday squad after the winger agreed a stay until the end of the season.

Welcome to the club, Amelia! 👋

#pufc

[Lord Benson 🌈 @borderonwheels]

Happy heavenly birthday Benson my boy! Always loved, always missed. Xx