Championship club set for massive points deduction over unpaid player wages

Crisis-club Sheffield Wednesday are staring down the barrel of a points deduction after failing to pay wages on time again. 

The beleaguered Owls, under the disastrous stewardship of owner Dejphon Chansiri, could be docked as many as 15 points after suffering the same issue five times in the last seven months. 

Under EFL rules each breach could technically trigger a three-point penalty – but such a hefty punishment is thought to be unlikely given precedents. 

In 2023, Wigan Athletic were deducted eight points for failing to pay wages on time, with four of those the enforcement of a suspended penalty, while Reading were stripped of three points in the same year. 

Daily Mail Sport understands that officials will seek to apply the rules but will no doubt be wary of Wednesday’s desperate situation as a buyer is sought. 

Players have not been paid at Hillsborough while staff have been handed just £1,000 each for their month’s work. 

Turmoiled Wednesday have been the subject of several EFL sanctions which include a long-term transfer ban and a series of embargoes. 

Debts are owed to other clubs and HMRC. Such is the complex nature of the matter that, coupled with issues remaining ongoing, the case against the club may not be heard before Christmas. 

The matter is slightly complicated by a switch in the EFL’s disciplinary process by the EFL over the summer. 

Some of Wednesday’s charges came under the previous regime, where the EFL directly issued a charge, while the more recent alleged breaches fall under the jurisdiction of the Club Financial Reporting Unit.