Bord is now the preferred bidder to buy English soccer team Sheffield
Poker champion James Bord is set to move into soccer ownership after emerging as the preferred bidder to buy Sheffield Wednesday, according to a report from the BBC. The deal is not yet finalized, but administrators have signaled that Bord’s bid is currently leading the process.
Sheffield Wednesday, founded in 1867, has faced serious financial problems over the past year. The club entered administration in October following difficulties under former owner Dejphon Chansiri, who had controlled the team since 2014. Reports indicated multiple missed wage payments in 2025, adding pressure for a quick and stable resolution.
Administrators confirmed that Bord’s consortium offered the strongest overall proposal after a detailed review. They cited financial certainty and extensive due diligence as key reasons for selecting the bid. Bord must still pass the English Soccer League’s Owners and Directors’ Test, which may draw scrutiny due to his background in high-stakes gambling.
If approved, Bord would take over a club in deep trouble on the pitch. Sheffield Wednesday currently sits last in the Championship with a nine-point deduction and is widely expected to be relegated. The club has not won a league title since 1959 and has not played in England’s top division since the 1999–2000 season.
Bord is best known in poker circles for winning the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in 2010. He has recorded millions in tournament winnings and has appeared regularly in televised cash games in recent years.
While some concerns remain, Bord would not be the first poker figure to own an English club. His potential takeover adds another unusual chapter to Sheffield Wednesday’s long and turbulent history.
