Sheffield Wednesday's new owners are shrouded in secrecy, with only James Bord, the club's preferred bidder, speaking out about his plans. Compared to poker player Evan Sofer, Bord is described as a "mini Tony Bloom", but those familiar with him describe him as a serious and quiet individual who will make his move on the pitch, rather than through publicity stunts.
Bord's data company, Short Circuit Science, has been linked to Sheffield United's recruitment process, which has delivered limited success. The club has struggled in the Championship, despite their manager, Chris Wilder, taking them to the playoff final last summer. Short Circuit was involved in the appointment of Rubén Sellés, who was sacked after six consecutive defeats.
The data company's impact on player recruitment is difficult to correct, with only a handful of signings making an appearance for United. The loans of Ben Godfrey and Louie Barry were terminated, while Swedish defender Nils Zätterström is expected to leave without having made a single start.
Bord's group offered over £30m for Wednesday, outbidding Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in the process. However, little is known about his plans for the club. He has paid a multimillion-pound deposit to the administrators and will follow up with further investment.
A source close to the deal described Bord as a "very serious guy" who is taking a punt on Wednesday. While he has been quiet throughout the takeover process, his ultimate ambition is to grow the club and make money through player trading.
Bord's background in data analysis is well-known, having worked for companies such as Starlizard and Smartodds before becoming a professional poker player. He won £830,401 at the World Series of Poker European Championship in 2010 and has since built up his company, Short Circuit Science.
Despite being described as a "mini Tony Bloom", Bord's approach to football is different from that of his poker rival. While Bloom is known for his flamboyant style, Bord appears to be more low-key, preferring to let his actions on the pitch speak for themselves. The nature and extent of his work for Smartodds remain unclear, but it is believed that he may have been used as a consultant.
As Wednesday fans wait with bated breath for news about their new owners, they are equally in the dark about Bord's plans. Unlike some of his peers, he appears to be content with keeping a low profile and allowing his actions on the pitch to speak for themselves.
Bord's data company, Short Circuit Science, has been linked to Sheffield United's recruitment process, which has delivered limited success. The club has struggled in the Championship, despite their manager, Chris Wilder, taking them to the playoff final last summer. Short Circuit was involved in the appointment of Rubén Sellés, who was sacked after six consecutive defeats.
The data company's impact on player recruitment is difficult to correct, with only a handful of signings making an appearance for United. The loans of Ben Godfrey and Louie Barry were terminated, while Swedish defender Nils Zätterström is expected to leave without having made a single start.
Bord's group offered over £30m for Wednesday, outbidding Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in the process. However, little is known about his plans for the club. He has paid a multimillion-pound deposit to the administrators and will follow up with further investment.
A source close to the deal described Bord as a "very serious guy" who is taking a punt on Wednesday. While he has been quiet throughout the takeover process, his ultimate ambition is to grow the club and make money through player trading.
Bord's background in data analysis is well-known, having worked for companies such as Starlizard and Smartodds before becoming a professional poker player. He won £830,401 at the World Series of Poker European Championship in 2010 and has since built up his company, Short Circuit Science.
Despite being described as a "mini Tony Bloom", Bord's approach to football is different from that of his poker rival. While Bloom is known for his flamboyant style, Bord appears to be more low-key, preferring to let his actions on the pitch speak for themselves. The nature and extent of his work for Smartodds remain unclear, but it is believed that he may have been used as a consultant.
As Wednesday fans wait with bated breath for news about their new owners, they are equally in the dark about Bord's plans. Unlike some of his peers, he appears to be content with keeping a low profile and allowing his actions on the pitch to speak for themselves.
. I mean, what's the guarantee that his approach will be any better than all the others? And £30m is a pretty penny, but we'll probably see him stripping away the old guard to make way for his own brand of "talent". And don't even get me started on the loans that were terminated – just another example of how this club can't keep its players. I'm not holding my breath for any actual positives to come out of this takeover, and until we see some real action on the pitch, I'll be over here doubting Bord's motives 
. evan sofer might be all flashy with his poker winnings, but james bord is like the quiet, steady type who gets the job done 
. and just like how you can't judge a book by its cover, we shouldn't be too hasty to form opinions about people based on what's publicly available 
. it's not all about being loud or flashy; sometimes it's the low-key guys who make the biggest impact 
. so let's give bord and wednesday a chance to prove us wrong, k? 
. what do we know for sure? nothing it seems 
. Apparently, Short Circuit Science has been sniffing around other clubs too, trying to get their hands on top talent. Not sure if that's gonna help or hinder Wednesday's chances in the long run 
️, and that Rubén Sellés stint was a disaster 
. Bord's all about being low-key, which I can respect - sometimes less is more 
, especially when it comes to football. What I'm curious about is how he'll balance the books and grow the club without sacrificing its identity 
️. Anyone got any insider info? 
This James Bord guy seems like a real go-getter, and I love that he's taking a serious approach to the club, no flashy PR stunts here! 
His background in data analysis is SO interesting, and I can see why he'd be interested in football - it's all about strategy and making smart moves! 
From what we know so far, he seems like a quiet leader who'll make his mark on the pitch rather than through social media. Fingers crossed he brings some stability and success to the club! 
. The fact that he invested multimillion-pound in a deposit suggests he's committed to making Wednesday successful, but it's hard to gauge his true intentions without more information 
. As someone who likes to look on the bright side, I'm hoping he's got a master plan to grow the club and get us back to winning ways 
I dont mind him keeping a low profile, thats cool with me 
let's hope he can bring some stability and success to the team soon! 
.
interesting how a guy who is super quiet and doesn't like to be in the spotlight ends up taking over a football club that needs some major attention...