Sheffield Wednesday face further points deductions but ‘four or five’ bidders emerge

Sheffield Wednesday could face two further points deductions this season for breaching English Football League regulations but the administrators of the Championship crisis club are optimistic there are “four or five” credible bidders. Wednesday are bottom on -6 points after the chair, Dejphon Chansiri, placed the club into administration last Friday, triggering an automatic 12-point penalty.

Wednesday have failed to pay wages on time for five of the past seven months. An independent commission hearing will determine the sanction for the non-payment of March’s and May’s player wages. Wednesday are expected to be charged with further breaches this season, thought to relate to the non-payment of wages in June, July and September, for which they could also be docked points. If Wednesday are deducted further points, it is expected the penalties would apply this season.

Kris Wigfield of the club’s administrator, Begbies Traynor, revealed a huge financial boost in the buildup to Wednesday’s defeat at home to Oxford after Chansiri in effect ended his 10-year reign. “Since the announcement, over £200,000 has been spent in the club shop, and we sold 9,000 tickets for the match in just 24 hours,” Wigfield said. “The kiosks were packed with fans buying food and beer, and every bit of that support matters more than you can imagine.”

Wigfield said he has fielded interest from parties interested in acquiring Wednesday. The club and the EFL are hopeful of a quick sale. “Within the numerous inquiries we’ve had, we certainly think that there are already four or five interested parties that look like the real deal,” Wigfield said. “By the end of November, if things go well, we might know who’s going to buy the football club.”

Wednesday, who are under five financial embargoes, are prohibited from paying fees for players until the summer of 2027 after breaching the 30-day rule for a second time. In June the EFL imposed a three-window fee restriction after the club exceeded 30 days of late payments between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, and that has been extended after repeated breaches. Wednesday can appeal.

The EFL served Wednesday a notice of withdrawal of membership on Friday, after the club entered administration, as per regulations, but immediately suspended the notice as work with the administrators moves towards a positive solution.

An independent commission will determine the outcome of proceedings relating to last season. After a regulation change in the summer, an independent club financial review panel will determine the outcome of any charges relating to this season.

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