Sheffield Wednesday confirms new chief executive and chairman

IT’S promotion time at Sheffield Wednesday as the troubled football club confirms that it has appointed Nick Parker as chief executive.

Lee Strafford, who joined with the board with Mr Parker last month, has also been appointed as company chairman.

The two directors bring with them a wealth of experience and will work with the board to meet the March 31 deadline the club has set to achieve the major new injection of funds, which it says will provide a long-term way of “taking the club forward”.

Mr Parker is the former chief financial officer of Sheffield-based specialist materials business Dyson and has more than 20 years experience in fund-raising and finance.

Mr Strafford, who also has fund-raising experience, has worked with companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange and the US NASDAQ and is the co-founder and chief executive of the Championship club’s shirt sponsor PlusNet.

The club, which has £25m of debt and home gates at an eight-year low of 15,000, said the appointments provided a clear leadership structure as well as certainty over its future direction.

It addded that it discussions on securing new investment for the club currently remained on schedule.

Talks last year for a takeover of the club by Lancashire businessman Geoff Sheard were reported to have broken down.

Mr Strafford said it was “a great honour” to become chairman of such a prestigious football club.

“Both Nick and I joined the board to secure new investment and deliver positive operational changes into the club,” he added.

“This remains our central focus and we are happy with the progress. We are both committed to delivering a brighter future for Sheffield Wednesday.”