There is increasing confidence that Sheffield Wednesday’s players and staff will be paid in full and on time when their monthly wages are due on Friday.
Concerns remained this week that October payments could again be delayed after the club was placed into administration last week.
But the administrators running the club are understood to have made great strides on Wednesday in terms of ticket sales and other incoming funds, with the balance sheet ahead of the October 31 pay-day looking much more positive.
That development will come as a welcome relief to both the players and club staff at Hillsborough, who have been dogged by late, and in some cases, unpaid salaries on a regular basis for the past six months, before outgoing owner Dejphon Chansiri put the club into administration.
The playing staff will be given priority to meet the club’s obligations when it comes to paying “football creditors” and to try to prevent further sanction from the EFL.
But Sky Sports News has been told the administrators’ biggest priority this week has been to generate enough cash to be able to pay the wages of everyone at the club.
Begbies Traynor’s next target is to keep the business afloat and viable, whilst also engaging with serious would-be buyers, to put Wednesday on a sound financial footing for the future.
Ticket boost continues in show of unity
More than 27,000 fans bought tickets for Saturday’s game at home to Oxford United in a significant show of unity and support, the day after Chansiri’s tenure was ended. The attendance for that game was 22 per cent higher than for the previous home match.
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United
Begbies Traynor has appealed for fans to continue to dig deep into their pockets, and asked firms that have contracts with the club to pay their bills promptly, to help the club survive week-to-week and game-to-game.
The PFA has been liaising closely with Wednesday’s players, offering support and advice.
EFL rules dictate that the players’ contracts must still be honoured in full, despite the administrator taking control of the club, and that the players are entitled to claim any arrears, once the club exits administration.
The Wednesday squad has repeatedly been paid late for the last six months, and further sanctions from the EFL are expected for breaches of their rules under Chansiri’s stewardship, which have yet to be brought by the League.
That could mean further points deductions on top of the 12 points already subtracted from their total automatically, when the club announced it was insolvent last week.
Sky Sports News understands that a date has been set for a further disciplinary hearing, but that date has not been made public.
An independent commission will meet to decide any extra punishment for Wednesday in the near future, and the fact the club is now in administration makes no difference to those disciplinary proceedings.
There has been no comment from Sheffield Wednesday, the PFA or the administrators now running the club.
Club hopeful of quick sale with ‘four or five’ interested parties
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Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett discusses Sheffield Wednesday’s current ownership status with both the EFL and the club optimistic of a deal
On Monday, Sky Sports News reported both the EFL and the administrator now running Sheffield Wednesday are hopeful the club can be sold quickly to new owners, with ‘four or five’ serious bidders already interested in taking over at Hillsborough.
The administrators are expected to hold initial discussions with a number of interested parties over the next few days, having revealed there are already “four or five” potential new owners.
The priority, alongside identifying a suitable new buyer, is to stabilise the club in its operations and ensure incoming revenue streams so that Sheffield Wednesday can continue to pay their incoming bills, including player and staff wages.
Owls captain Bannan admits administration comes as a ‘huge relief’
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Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan says he is hopeful that The Owls can bounce back after tough times
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan says it has been “a huge relief” since the club went into administration last week.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bannan said: “I think at the minute it’s a huge sigh of relief. Obviously, the way we were going it was becoming difficult.
“Month by month we didn’t feel there was anything around the club that was positive, so when the news broke out last week, then obviously that begins a new start for the club.”
Read the exclusive interview in full here.
Wednesday’s nightmare three months
Sheffield Wednesday played in front of a sparse crowd during their Carabao Cup game against Leeds as fans protested against Dejphon Chansiri
June 3: The club and owner Dejphon Chansiri charged with breaching EFL regulations regarding payment obligations.
June 18: EFL imposes three-window fee restriction after exceeding 30 days of late payments between July 1 2024 and June 30 2025.
June 26: In a statement on the club’s official website, Chansiri said he was willing to sell the club.
June 27: Another embargo imposed on the club, relating to payments owed to HMRC.
June 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
July 17: Josh Windass and Michael Smith leave the club by mutual consent.
July 29: Danny Röhl leaves role as manager by mutual consent. The club were forced to close the 9,255-capacity North Stand at Hillsborough after Sheffield City Council issued a Prohibition Notice following a meeting with the local Safety Advisory Group.
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Speaking earlier this month, Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett explains what consequences Sheffield Wednesday face after they missed their deadline to pay senior players’ wages
July 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
July 31: Röhl’s assistant Henrik Pedersen signs a three-year deal to become the club’s new manager.
August 6: The EFL releases a statement explaining their stance on the situation. “We are clear that the current owner needs either to fund the club to meet its obligations or make good on his commitment to sell to a well-funded party, for fair market value – ending the current uncertainty and impasse.”
August 8: Transfer embargoes lifted after outstanding payments settled, but fee restriction remains in place.
August 10: The Owls lose 2-1 to Leicester in their Championship opener at the King Power Stadium.
August 13: Prohibition Notice on North Stand lifted after “necessary professional safety assurances.”
September 4: Wednesday fans launch protest against Chansiri outside Thai embassy in London.
September 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
October 4: Wednesday lose 5-0 at home to Coventry. Kick-off delayed after group of fans run onto the Hillsborough pitch in protest against Chansiri.
October 14: Players and staff receive outstanding wages from September.
October 16: News emerges of imminent winding-up petition over £1m owed to HMRC.
October 22: Wednesday fans boycott home game against Middlesbrough. No official attendance figure released.
October 24: Wednesday file for administration and receive 12-point deduction from the EFL.
