Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday set sights on hiring ex-Hearts chief as new sporting director after takeover
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(Credit: Imago, BBC) Fri 17 April 2026 14:44, UK Sheffield Wednesday are considering former Hearts chief Joe Savage among the candidates for a newly-created sporting director role, sources have told Football Insider.Prospective Wednesday owner David Storch is keen to set up a new structure at Hillsbrough, including a sporting director to lead their recruitment once the takeover is completed.Savage boasts a wealth of experience, having previously worked for both Norwich and Preston as a chief scout, before enjoying great success in his three-and-a-half year spell at Hearts.The highly-respected recruitment chief is credited with helping to lay the foundations for Hearts’ Scottish Premiership title challenge this season.During his time at Tynecastle, the Jambos secured promotion to the Premiership and qualified for European football in three successive years for the first time in the club’s history. He also helped build the women’s team up from scratch.Credit: Sheffield WednesdayWho is Sheffield Wednesday candidate Joe Savage?Football Insider reported on 17 April that Sheffield Wednesday are ready to appoint David Bruce as their new CEO after his exit from Sunderland, and could follow in their footsteps.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES With the club already putting plans in place behind the scenes, the addition of a new sporting director post-takeover could be the next step towards those lofty ambitions.Joe Savage ClubsRoleDatesHeartsSporting Director2020-2024Preston North EndChief Scout2017-2020Norwich CityChief Scout2015-2017Hamilton AcademicalChief Scout2012-2015Joe Savage’s roles for each club.Savage’s record at Hearts proves his experience of building clubs up with long-term plans for the future, with smart recruitment and internal work at the centre.He helped to improve the Edinburgh club from the inside out, improving their infrastructure as well as the team on the pitch as they made rapid progress.While Storch’s plans will depend on the proposed takeover going through, there are new reasons for Owls fans to be optimistic about the long-term future.What is the latest on David Storch’s takeover?Arise Capital Partners [ACP], which comprises Storch, his son Michael and Tom Costin, was granted preferred bidder status to seal a Sheffield Wednesday takeover last month.The next three weeks are now believed to be crucial for the club, as ACP remain determined to buy the club despite calling on the EFL for greater flexibility.Alongside the club’s administrators, they are working towards the paperwork being signed before 1 May, with the EFL working through his Owners and Directors test compliance.Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson told Football Insider last month that Storch’s group are closing in on buying Wednesday, with documents already submitted.Borson believes the purchase of the club should ultimate be a straight-forward process, despite fears that the club will be low on cash should it not go through. 🏆 Championship Insider Access Get the full story from across the EFL with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from across the EFL Championship.