Bates keen to invest £10m in Wednesday

FORMER Chelsea chairman Ken Bates is keen to invest upwards of £10m in Sheffield Wednesday.

Bates, who left the Premiership club earlier this month, is now looking for “one more challenge” with the ailing Second Division club, who were in the Premier League as recently as 2000.

He said: “Sheffield Wednesday is a club I’ve always had an affinity with. Twenty years ago Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday were head to head. Chelsea are now in the Champions League, and look where Wednesday are.

“I’m 72 and I feel I’ve got one more challenge left in me, and I’d like to take on that here. I understand Wednesday want investment, chairman Mr Dave Allen has said so, that’s why I was introduced to see if I could help. I have a minimum of £10m to invest, and I have the support of the Owls Trust.”

He said: “First of all the job is to improve the playing squad. I don’t think they’re going to get relegated but it’s not a happy situation for a club of Wednesday’s stature.

“There’s got to be some improvements in terms of commercial income, gate receipts and the maintenance of the stadium.”