Sheffield Wednesday Faces Additional Penalties and Ownership Changes

omidbasir- Sheffield Wednesday’s struggles in the Championship have deepened as they face an additional six-point deduction imposed by the English Football League (EFL) for breaching regulations. This penalty positions the club a staggering 27 points from safety.

Former owner Dejphon Chansiri has been handed a three-year ban from holding ownership or director roles at any EFL club. Reports from BBC Radio Sheffield indicate that the latest deduction is a consequence of the club’s failure to meet payment obligations to players for the months of March, May, and June, as well as outstanding payments to staff and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In October, Sheffield Wednesday incurred a 12-point deduction after filing for administration, leading to their current standing of minus 10 points and leaving them 27 points behind Swansea in the 21st position.

The EFL has confirmed that investigations into the club’s conduct during the current season are ongoing but stated that no additional point deductions are being sought at this time. According to a statement on the Sheffield Wednesday website, “The EFL can confirm that Sheffield Wednesday FC are to be deducted six points with immediate effect for multiple breaches of EFL Regulations relating to payment obligations, with Mr. Dejphon Chansiri prohibited from being an owner or director of any EFL Club for a period of three years.”

Ongoing discussions are aimed at resolving the appeal regarding a fee restriction that is expected to last until the end of the winter 2027 transfer window. This situation is anticipated to be addressed as part of the club’s exit from administration.

Chansiri’s ownership, which began in 2015 through a Thai consortium, effectively ended with the club’s transition into administration. Administrators are currently working to identify a preferred bidder for the club, with hopes of finalizing this process by Friday.

Despite the grim outlook following the latest deduction, analysis from Rob Staton of BBC Radio Sheffield suggests that there may be silver linings for fans. Sheffield Wednesday is expected to start the next season with zero points, providing a fresh beginning. Furthermore, the potential lifting of the fee restriction in January would allow new ownership to implement immediate transfer strategies for the club’s recovery from League One, which seems unavoidable at this point.

Reports indicate that prospective bidders are actively engaging with the situation, with some surpassing the ’25p in the pound’ threshold, which would shield the club from further penalties upon exiting administration. Overall, while this has been a challenging period for Sheffield Wednesday, the latest developments are likely to be received positively by supporters, as new ownership will have a clean slate to revitalize the club.