The darkest hours are over for Sheffield Wednesday

A consortium led by U.S. businessman David Storch has completed a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, who are now out of administration and will start next season in League One without a 15-point deduction.

The new owners were confirmed ahead of Wednesday hosting West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the Championship season at a sold-out Hillsborough. The hosts won the game 2-1, just their second league victory of the season, to take them back to zero points after two separate deductions totalling 18 points.

According to the English Football League (EFL)’s insolvency rules, clubs that fail to exit administration without paying all creditors at least 25 per cent of what they are owed, usually receive a 15-point penalty.

The EFL’s board, however, has the power to waive this sanction, and the Storch consortium made it very clear to the league that it would not proceed with the takeover unless the board agreed to exercise this discretion.

So, the deduction has been suspended, subject to compliance with an agreed business plan, which includes a commitment to spend a much-needed £10million on the stadium.

Storch — who has spent his career in the aviation industry — will be joined by son, Michael, and Boston-based investor Tom Costin in a deal led through investment firm Arise Capital Partners. The final details of the deal were confirmed with administrators and the EFL on Friday evening, allowing Storch to be presented to fans on the pitch at the end of a season in which Wednesday were relegated to League One in a record-early February.

At the end of a long and miserable season there is finally the hope of better days at Hillsborough.  The Storch group cannot offer guarantees of success but the early indications suggest there will be enthusiasm, ambition and clear long-term plans. Chansiri ceased to offer any of those long ago, allowing Wednesday to decay along a grim road to administration.

If nothing else, though, this feels as Wednesday have now lived through the darkest hours. Storch is ready to entrust experienced figures to lead the revival and inject cash into the areas of the club where its infrastructure has been badly neglected.

There is a plan to rebuild one of English football’s most historic clubs and, importantly, the goodwill of a huge fanbase. To have sold out Hillsborough on the final day after a run of 39 league games without a win is testament to the backing that awaits Storch.  Best wishes to the fans of this historic club.