Sheffield Wednesday face a further points deduction threat for the 2021/22 season, and that is if they don’t pay the wages owed.
The Owls reportedly owe players for not being paid the full value of their salary in the last few months while some are due end-of-season loyalty payments, with the cost of money owed spiralling in what has been a long-standing issue dating back to last year.
According to reports this weekend, there are claims that the money owed has now reached a staggering £12m.
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
That kind of money would put the Owls in real danger, after seeing their income hit by the pandemic and now face the prospect of further reductions following their relegation to League One.
Under a recent FIFA law, failure to pay the players for two consecutive months would allow the players to hand in a two-week notice on their contract, effectively making them free agents with Wednesday not due any transfer fee should they sign for another club.
That may be the least of the Owls’ problems as the report says the PFA want the players to claim for their missing wages, with any claim made with the EFL through the PFA meaning the league would have a cause for a further possible points deduction.
Wednesday were originally docked 12 points for breaching the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, with that point deduction reduced to six points on appeal last season.
Meanwhile, the PFA is in contact with Sheffield Wednesday and the EFL over unpaid player wages.
The PFA has reportedly previously written to the club’s owner Dejphon Chansiri asking for clarity over when the players will receive their outstanding wages.
Chansiri has repeatedly spoken about Wednesday’s ongoing cashflow difficulties and the absence of matchday revenue since the start of the Covid pandemic has had a significant impact.
Last month, he penned an open letter to Owls supporters taking the blame for the club’s relegation.
The letter read: “As your owner and chairman, I take full responsibility for everything that happens at our club. I am the leader and in good times or bad, the responsibility for Sheffield Wednesday lies with me. I am sorry to you all that we have been relegated.
“This was never what I anticipated when I came to Hillsborough in 2015, my vision was to take Wednesday into the Premier League. We came so close in 2016 and then again in 2017 and since then the times have not been so good at all.
“In football, in sport, there are highs and there are lows and right now, this is the lowest I have felt and I know you will be feeling the same. There are no guarantees in football, we have tried our best but our best was not good enough. We must now face the reality of what lies ahead and for next season at least, that is League One.
“We must pick ourselves up from the floor and move forward in a positive way. We have had plans for both scenarios and now our immediate future is clear, we can start to put those plans into place.
“I can pledge that as chairman, I will give everything I can and offer as much support as possible to everyone as we try and achieve promotion at the first attempt. There are issues we must address in the short and long term and some things will not happen overnight.
“Darren Moore will be the manager for sure and the moment I mention Darren’s name, I must wish him all the very best as he continues his recovery from illness. Health must come before anything else, as this past year has taught us more than ever.
“I would like to say thank you to the coaching staff who stepped up in Darren’s absence and also to everyone who has worked so hard during what has become one of if not the most challenging season in the history of Sheffield Wednesday. It has ended in the worst possible way but we have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
“We will rebuild on the pitch, and off it, the day when fans return cannot come soon enough. I say thank you to our fans, it has been soulless without having you following the team home and away and I know all clubs say the same but we have missed your support so much.
“Like all of you, I hope that life can return to normal soon and in football, that will mean having our fans back into Hillsborough and following the team around the country in the numbers that you do.
“You do not deserve this end to a season that in so many ways we will want to forget but in others we can look back on in time as a turning point for the revival of our club.”
Fans reacted as Sheffield Wednesday face a further points deduction threat for the 2021/22 season…
@LifeIsPeachy82: Get out of our club now Chansiri!
@Otterman_Nodge: Unbelievable 😱, for everyone sake DC SELL UP asap 🙏🙏🙏
@cjdecorators: The silence from chansiri is deafening. Quick to come out and criticise the supporters but not a word since our relegation caused by the 6 point deficit
@GascoyneDr: Totally agree mate. He really keeps us all informed as to what’s going off. But then if you are wrecking the club you can’t tell the fans can you.
@dave74Thompson: Anyone who says this man cares about the club is deluded.
@uptheowls76: Be admin soon, kiss goodbye to those refunds guys
@DPaggiossi: What’s next chansiri? Sell the ground to Tesco’s? You’ve destroyed our club. You don’t have a clue or care about our great club. Do something NOW! Or get out. # Save Our Club.
@GlenEdley: Go Ahead do it I’m just waiting for bullet to be put through
@therealtbailey: If we start this season with Darren Moore as manager I’ll be amazed. Wouldn’t blame him for walking away. Nor do I blame any of the player doing whatever necessary to get what they’re owed. #chansiriout #swfc
@OriginalChris74: Don’t believe anything that comes from the sun the sum owed will be nowhere near 12 million
@DaffinPaul: £12M Wow! Expulsion from EFL may also be a possibility.
@badendido: Please explain loyalty bonus on the shit they performed last year
— WAWAW76 (@ndunne76) June 6, 2021
— Stuart Cullen (@owltillidie) June 6, 2021
What is it like to be a Sheffield Wednesday fan ? #swfc
: pic.twitter.com/7G7TPY62YT— ᴄᴏʟᴇ🇨🇦 (@cc1867_) June 6, 2021
You must be logged in to post a comment Login