The English Football League (EFL) continues to evaluate the proposed acquisition of Sheffield Wednesday, focusing on whether the deal relies heavily on funds from gambling and cryptocurrency gambling ventures. A consortium led by professional poker player James Bord and crypto-gambling casino owner Felix Roemer received preferred bidder status from the club’s administrators on Christmas Eve.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
The EFL examines the bidders’ compliance with its owners’ and directors’ test (ODT). At season’s end, the Independent Football Regulator assumes responsibility for such assessments, including this case if unresolved. The regulator holds broader investigative, sanctioning, and enforcement powers compared to the EFL and can review existing owners as well.
The Bord-Roemer group has deposited millions of pounds to secure exclusive negotiation rights for the £30 million-plus purchase, plus three years of operating expenses. Administrators at Begbies Traynor received proof of available funds, but the EFL analyzes the origins, with the buyers’ gambling ties potentially delaying approval. Sources note that due diligence remains in preliminary phases.
An EFL spokesperson confirms the ODT process is underway.
Gambling Links and Precedents
Clubs owned by gambling entities, such as Tony Bloom’s Brighton and Matthew Benham’s Brentford, operate under Football Association (FA) exemptions from the 2014 ban on football betting by participants. These owners permit independent audits of their firms—Starlizard and Smartodds—to verify no football wagers occur.
Bord and Roemer would likely need comparable agreements, though FA approval remains uncertain. Bloom and Benham owned their clubs when the rules took effect, and the FA coordinates with the EFL on this matter.
Bidders’ Profiles and Funding Details
James Bord, 44, boasts reported poker earnings of around £3 million and has ties to data-driven betting operations run by Bloom and Benham. Industry sources describe him as a proficient gambler.
Their advisers state the bid draws from private investments in technology and analytics, offering no further specifics.
Felix Roemer’s wealth stems more directly from Gamdom, his offshore crypto-gambling casino and sports betting platform registered in the Comoros Islands. The site faced regulatory fines and bans in Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands for unlicensed operations via its prior entity, Smein Hosting NV.
Bord co-owns Scottish Championship side Dunfermline with poker player Evan Sofa and holds interests in Spanish club Córdoba and Bulgarian team Septemvri Sofia alongside other investors. His firm Short Circuit Science, a data and analytics outfit, operates offshore without UK or US registration details on staff or activities. It previously consulted Sheffield United on player recruitment until Bord’s Wednesday bid surfaced.
Competitive Bidding and Club Stability
The consortium outbid six rivals, including former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, following the club’s October administration entry. Begbies Traynor maintains trust in the group but anticipates a lengthy ODT, prompting player sales for cash flow: captain Barry Bannan joined Millwall, and Chelsea secured 17-year-old defender Yisa Alao for £500,000.
Sheffield South East Labour MP Clive Betts calls for thorough EFL vetting despite urgency for completion. “The source of funding has to be a concern, given the inherent volatility of those industries,” Betts stated. “Even if the EFL approves the takeover, what level of sustainability is there? These are issues that need to be addressed. I’m sure the regulator will be taking a close look, as even if they aren’t running the ODT they could inherit these owners. This is a massive test for the regulator. Given the nature of the bidders they will want to ensure there’s a thorough process, and it could take a long time.”
