Last updated: 3rd September 2008
Hillsborough: Takeover near
Geoff Sheard is hopeful of concluding a deal for the control of Sheffield Wednesday in a 'matter of days'.
Sheard, backed by a Switzerland-based trust, has confirmed funding is now in place to buy a 29.9 per cent stake in the club with money from two investors - one British and one German.
"It's a matter of days away - I'm hoping we're done this week," Sheard told the Yorkshire Post.
"We have an agreement in place with the club to co-opt me on to the board. Everything is ready to go."
Former Owls chairman Dave Allen, who has already agreed to sell his 10 per cent stake, added: "He phoned me to say the funds were in place - which I'm pleased about - and it was hoped to do the deal by the end of the week."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 7th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 20:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Scunthorpe |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Plymouth |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Peterborough |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Swansea |
| 15:00 | Preston vs Bristol City |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Blackpool |
| 15:00 | Reading vs Nottm Forest |
| 15:00 | Sheff Wed vs Barnsley |
| 15:00 | Watford vs Doncaster |
| 17:30 | West Brom vs Newcastle |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:45 | Coventry vs Ipswich |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Barnsley vs Coventry |
| 15:00 | Blackpool vs Cardiff |
| 15:00 | Bristol City vs Crystal Palace |
| 15:00 | Doncaster vs Preston |
| 15:00 | Ipswich vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Peterborough vs Sheff Wed |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs QPR |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Monday 25th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Tuesday 12th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Reading 0 - 2 Burnley | |
| Monday 11th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Preston | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Reading | |
| Friday 8th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Preston 1 - 1 Sheff Utd | |
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Reading 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Sheff Wed 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Watford 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Plymouth 1 - 2 Barnsley | |
| Nottm Forest 3 - 1 Southampton | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Doncaster | |
| Charlton 4 - 2 Norwich | |
| Preston 2 - 1 QPR | |
| Swansea 0 - 1 Blackpool | |
| Burnley 4 - 0 Bristol City | |
| Ipswich 2 - 1 Coventry | |
| Monday 27th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Norwich 0 - 2 Reading | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Birmingham 1 - 2 Preston | |
| Bristol City 1 - 1 Sheff Wed | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnsley | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Coventry City | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Derby County | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Doncaster Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Peterborough United | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Preston North End | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Reading | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Scunthorpe United | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Swansea City | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Watford | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 0 |
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Alex Dunn delves into the hornet's nest of hypocrisy that is loyalty in football and is left disappointed.
Julian Gray has joined Sheff Utd on trial, while Ian Bennett has signed a new deal with the club.
Sheffield United are closing in on Watford duo Tommy Smith and John-Joe O'Toole and Bristol City's Michael McIndoe.
Michael Owen believes Alan Shearer is the man to lead Newcastle United back to the Premier League.
Peter Ridsdale has dismissed suggestions Cardiff are not prepared to offer Joe Ledley an improved deal.
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