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Day-by-day, Sheffield Wednesday are finding themselves in a more and more dire position.
Supporters have rallied behind Henrik Pedersen after the Owls announced the Dane as the new permanent manager following Danny Rohl’s departure on Tuesday morning.
However, Barry Bannan is the subject of interest from Millwall and Middlesbrough, after his contract at Hillsborough expired at the end of last season.
Now, players have been paid late for the third successive month, and after a three-window transfer fee ban was placed on Sheffield Wednesday before, there is the chance of further punishment.
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Finance expert explains the current position Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in
There is just over a week to go until Leicester City host the Owls, but there are concerns that players could strike over the payment issues.
Our finance expert, Adam Williams, has explained more about the current situation in S6 and what steps the EFL could take next. He said: “All we know for certain at the moment is that the EFL appeals process is ongoing.
“There are various stakeholders being kept in the dark for now, not least the fan groups who have done an excellent job of holding the club to account and lobbying the EFL. There’s a lot of work going in behind the scenes there that people outside of Sheffield Wednesday maybe don’t appreciate.
“I know, for instance, that the EFL have been surprised by the level of detail and research that some fan groups have presented to them in meetings. They have day jobs and are doing this as a labour of love, so huge credit goes to them even if it feels like they’re fighting a losing battle.
“Ultimately, it’s hard to see how a points deduction won’t materialise. It sounds like players won’t get their July wages on time, and the evidence that Chansiri doesn’t have the means or inclination to make payments punctually is pretty incontrovertible at this stage. If the players boycott, you can’t blame them. It might ultimately be the best thing for the club.
“Pending the appeals process, there will almost certainly be a points deduction. It might be, say, a one-point deduction with another three suspended. That’s usually how the EFL handles these things.
“As far as I’m aware based on the detail of the Reading FC case last year, Chansiri will be asked to place 125 per cent of the monthly wage bill into an escrow account. If he doesn’t do that, he will probably get a personal fine on top of that.
“Their annual wage bill in 2023-24 was £22m. If you pro-rate that, it means Chansiri is going to have to find somewhere in the region of around £2.3m from month to month. The numbers here won’t be exact, but they won’t be far off. In his current business situation, is he able to do that? This is the question that will ultimately decide their fate as far as a points deduction is concerned.”
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It’s a continuous waiting game for the Owls
It’s been 90 days since the final day of last season, and Sheffield Wednesday as a club are unrecognisable from the side that ended that campaign.
There’s a new manager, the squad has been ripped apart and supporters are being left in the dark with the North Stand at Hillsborough set to be closed until further notice.
Points deductions may not have an overall impact on the eventual league finish for Sheffield Wednesday, but it would be another step for the EFL and only time will tell as to the next steps for a club whose soul has been ripped from them.