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There was no reported statement from Mike Ashley explaining how he felt about Sheffield Wednesday’s takeover process. In early March 2026, the news was that his bid was among the offers being considered, while evaluation, legal terms and a deposit still stood between bids and confirmation. On 10 March, the club named Arise Capital Partners LLC—not Ashley—as its preferred bidder.
What was pending when Ashley’s bid was reported?
On 5 March 2026, BBC Radio Sheffield reported that final offers were due on Friday, with bids involving Ashley and David Storch among those in the process. The report described three steps still to come: the offers had to be evaluated, legal terms agreed and a deposit paid before anything could be confirmed. BBC Radio Sheffield’s 5 March report therefore supports a process update, not a claim that Ashley personally said he was waiting.
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On 9 March, BBC Radio Sheffield cautioned supporters against being swept up in reports before a preferred bidder was named. Its 9 March commentary reflected the uncertainty at that point in the sale process.
Who became preferred bidder?
Sheffield Wednesday announced on 10 March 2026 that Arise Capital Partners LLC had been selected as preferred bidder, describing its offer as the strongest proposal from the renewed bidding process. The club said the consortium had provided a substantial deposit and evidence of funds, and that an exclusivity agreement had been entered into. Its official announcement named David Storch, Michael Storch and Tom Costin as members of the consortium.
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BBC Sport reported the following day that Ashley was understood to have made a bid. That establishes reported bid activity; it does not establish that Ashley was chosen, that his bid was accepted, or what he personally thought about the process. BBC Sport’s 11 March report covered the bid and the proposed transaction’s conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the proposed Arise deal still depend on?
At the time, BBC Sport said the proposed Arise transaction remained subject to EFL scrutiny. It also reported that the offer terms then under discussion could involve a 15-point deduction. This was a conditional, contemporaneous report about the proposal—not a statement of a final or current points outcome. BBC Sport’s account also reported that David Storch wanted supporters to have a voice. Those comments were Storch’s, not Ashley’s.
Storch told BBC Radio Sheffield: “I am very sincere when I say the fans will own the club, we will be the custodians.” That statement describes the preferred bidder’s message to supporters; it should not be attributed to Ashley. BBC Radio Sheffield’s interview covered Storch’s comments.
What later club material says—and what it does not establish
In a partnership document dated 15 June 2026, Sheffield Wednesday used the heading “OUR OWNERSHIP STORY” and said Arise Consortium had stepped forward. This shows that later club-produced material framed Arise as part of the club’s ownership story, moving beyond the March preferred-bidder announcement. The document does not, by itself, establish the exact date the transaction completed. The club’s June partnership document is commercial material, so its wording is best read for that ownership framing rather than as a detailed transaction record.
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