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Sheffield Wednesday players threaten to go on strike amid further worrying developments

Sheffield Wednesday players threaten to go on strike amid further worrying developments facing them going into October.

The Owls, who sit 23rd in the Championship with 5 points from 7 games played, face ongoing financial turmoil under owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Players and staff have gone unpaid for September, prompting considerations at refusing to train after their match against Birmingham City.

The club, already under a transfer embargo until 2027 due to repeated late payments, has seen 13 first-team players leave, manager Danny Rohl depart, and a stand at Hillsborough closed by council order.

Captain Barry Bannan continues to express his frustration over the current uncertainty, while also focusing on football amid the chaos going on behind the scenes.

@RobDorsettSky has tweeted: “#swfc players and staff went unpaid again this month. Payments were due on Friday, but they were told wages would be delayed until Monday – no payments arrived yesterday either. Players will play match v #bcfc tonight, but some are considering refusing to train later this week.

“#swfc facing a points deduction for repeatedly failing to pay their players and staff on time. Currently facing multiple EFL charges, and not allowed to pay a fee for new players til summer ‘27. Wages not paid yesterday again – 5th month out of 6.”

Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist this week discussed the situation facing Sheffield Wednesday…

Jeff: Let’s talk about a club has got a lot of problems. Sheffield Wednesday. Reports that the players have been told once again this month they will not be paid on time. That will be the fifth month in seven that they haven’t been paid on time. Decision over non-paying staff yet to be confirmed. I think there’s been some part payment. You wonder how long this can go on, Ali, before there is some solution found?

Ally: Jeff, I’ve got to say I think it’s remarkable the way they are going on. Was it a point at the weekend at QPR? Because I don’t care who this is, morale must seriously be getting affected. Barry Bannan on last week. And what a servant he’s been, by the way, incidentally. He’s been absolutely fantastic at that football club. And you just worry, you you worry about playing staff and ordinary staff not getting paid and you worry 10 more I always feel Jeff about the staff in and around the ground. Because footballers generally speaking will survive, you know, whether they go to another club or whatever may happen. But it’s the people and the environment around the club that the day to day staff and morale at that place must be, dear me. Something’s got to give gesture.

Jeff: Yeah, it’s just a conundrum, isn’t it, as to what gives, you know? The fans are protesting, they’re boycotting games, you know? I mean, the players can’t withdraw their labour, can they? Cos that doesn’t help anybody. The EFL keeps imposing transfer embargoes. I mean, they’re not allowed to buy anybody now until January 2027. But that’s playing the owner’s game, isn’t it? Because he doesn’t want to spend money on the club.

Ally: What do you do? How would you force them out, you know, really? Is boycott in the games the answer? I don’t know. I mean, the fans are absolutely entitled 100% to do what they feel is right. But does it help the club long term or is it a short term view to try and get the owner out? But you’re right.

Jeff: I don’t know how else they would protest, you know? How else can they? We’ve seen it with, you know, tennis ball protests at Reading and you get points deducted. So, you know… I mean, there are lots of things going on at the moment and the Sheffield Star is reporting that payment on a loan on the stadium is due today. And rather than that debt rolling over, a portion of that may be called in. And the question is then does Mr Chansiri have the money to pay that portion of the debt if if that happens?

Ally: For me that’s as big a thing involving Sheffield Wednesday moving forward as anything else. I think the way you’ve told me, that report would indicate to me today is absolutely massive. Because what happens? For all intents and purposes, you’re looking at it from the outside in, that’s not going to get paid. I mean, if players are only getting their wages and things like that, what makes us think that stadium payment is going get made?

Jeff: I mean, if you look ahead, I’ve got an interesting text in this, a couple of 16 year olds have made their debuts for Sheffield Wednesday this season. Obviously they’re pushed in terms of numbers. Going be 17 in a couple of months time, but the EFL is unlikely to allow Sheffield Wednesday to them to become professionals at the age of 17. You know they don’t want the club taking on any more expense if you like but that means these are young men who could have their dreams shattered.

Ally: Yeah, yeah absolutely you can look at it the other way and say why on earth I clearly understand it’s their dreams to play professional football but if they’ve got a lot of faith and belief in their own ability what would possess them to sign a contract? A club that’s not paying their wages.

Jeff: Ben has texted, he says, he’s a massive Owl, he said, why aren’t the authorities stepping in and removing Chansiri from the club? He’s deliberately doing this to punish the fans. Ben believes he genuinely does not care about the club. Legally, I don’t know how feasible or how possible it is.

Henrik Pedersen praises Barry Bannan for speaking out as Sheffield Wednesday face third EFL embargo

Ally: Yeah, I mean, you and I both don’t know the legalities of it. I would suggest it would be very, very difficult to remove him. If he’s in ownership of the club.

Jeff: Yeah. It’s an almost seemingly impossible situation. One thing I would say, by the way, is that they play Birmingham City this evening. Now look at what Birmingham City have been through. They went through humongously tough times with difficult owners. Look at where they are now. Look at the backing that they have now. Things can turn very quickly. So I think for Sheffield Wednesday fans, it seems all gloom and gloom and it’s impossible at the moment, but it can turn.

Ally: Fingers crossed it does.

Jeff: Yeah, all depending on the owner leaving the football club, basically, and moving it on to somebody who has got the funding, you know, to… I mean, Sheffield Wednesday, even if they did beat Hartlepool in the 2004-2005 playoff for the Championship, they’re a great club, they’re a big club, you know, and something needs to happen here. I honestly don’t know what. That’s the truth.

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