Former Boston chairman Jon Sotnick has joined the bidding

Former Boston chairman and Darlington chief executive Jon Sotnick is set to make a bid for Sheffield Wednesday.

Sotnick has exclusively told BBC Radio Sheffield that he is fronting a British-based consortium that will make a formal bid to take control next week.

Sotnick claims to have sufficient funds to rival the bid made in February by Lancashire businessman Geoff Sheard.

"I wouldn't want to head a consortia that couldn't deliver that," he said. "We're talking multi-millions."

Sotnick spent two years as Boston chairman between 2004 and 2006, then moved to Darlington where he worked under millionaire owner George Houghton before leaving in December 2007.

The former Boston boss is keen to take over at Hillsborough but admits there is still a lot of work to be done before that can happen.

"The first objective we must meet is to show funds which will achieve three objectives," he said. "To take over the club, to alleviate the club of its indebtedness and create a transfer kitty.

"We're dictated to by due process once we show the money.

"When we show the money we'll be in a position to take the club forward."

606: DEBATE The sooner a takeover happens and the present members are gone the better in my opinion because they don't seem to care about our club. steviep1

Sheard also issued a statement today on the situation.

"I am aware of Mr Sotnick's interest," he said. "And it makes no difference to what I am doing.

"I still want to buy Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, but because I'm bound by the rules of the takeover panel I can't make any further comment at this time."

Meanwhile, Wednesdayite, the Owls supporters' society, who have yet to receive an offer for their 10% stake, have confirmed that they along with the Shareholders Association met rival bidder Sheard at a Leeds hotel this week.