Sheffield Wednesday: Championship club file for administration

Sheffield Wednesday have filed a notice to be placed into administration after it was revealed His Majesty's Revenue & Customs were set to issue a winding-up petition against the club.

A notice was filed with the Insolvency and Companies Court at the High Court on Friday morning and Julian Pitts, Kris Wigfield and Paul Stanley of Begbies Traynor have been appointed joint-administrators.

Staff have been briefed, while administrators also held a meeting with players. The Owls host Oxford United at Hillsborough on Saturday (15:00 BST) with the club now facing a 12-point deduction.

BBC Sport has contacted Sheffield Wednesday and the EFL for comment.

The news comes following increased supporter protests at Hillsborough, with fans boycotting the game against Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Going into administration would effectively end Dejphon Chansiri's decade-long ownership of the club.

The Owls are bottom of the Championship and a points deduction will leave them 15 points adrift of safety.

BBC Sheffield understands there are interested buyers and that the administrators are already in active discussions and are also inviting formal offers from other credible potential buyers.

Wigfield, a managing partner at Begbies Traynor, said: "The joint administrators have taken over the running of the club with immediate effect to protect the interests of creditors, and to ensure Sheffield Wednesday can continue operating while we seek a new owner as swiftly as possible.

"Like many football clubs, it has been trading at a significant loss for many years, with those losses historically funded by the owner. Mr Chansiri is no longer willing to provide that financial support.

"While the recent fan boycott has not directly caused the insolvency, it has increased financial pressure on the club. As a result, the owner has chosen to place the club into administration.

"Supporters are the backbone of any football club. The money they spend at the gate and in the ground is vital. I've been a season ticket holder since 1984 and know first-hand the passion of this fanbase.

"Now, more than ever, we need fans back in the ground — buying tickets, merchandise, pies and pints. Every penny spent will go directly to supporting the day-to-day running of this club, not to the former owner or professional costs. This will help stabilise the club while we secure a suitable buyer."

Creditors of the club have been encouraged to contact the joint administrators to register a claim.

Stanley, one of the other joint administrators, said: "There should be no interruption to the fixture schedule and we are in close contact with the EFL to ensure the effects of this administration on the employees, supporters, the community and the players are minimised as far as possible.

"Sheffield Wednesday is a massive, historic club with a loyal fanbase in a city that lives and breathes football. If more fans return to Hillsborough, the club can cover its day-to-day costs and move towards a viable sale to a new ownership capable of restoring long-term stability.

"With the right ownership structure, we are confident the club has a bright future and will meet all EFL regulatory obligations."

Thai businessman Chansiri took over at Hillsborough in March 2015 with ambitions to lead the club back into the Premier League for the first time since 2000.

They were beaten in the Championship play-off final by Hull City the following May but that was the closest they came to ending their top-flight exile under his ownership and were relegated to League One in 2020-21 after a six-point deduction for breaking spending rules.

Darren Moore led them back to the second tier in 2023 but left by mutual consent shortly afterwards and Danny Rohl then stabilised the club after a wretched start to 2023-24 under Xisco Munoz.

During Chansiri's reign there had previously been some issues with wage payments but things really came to the fore when May's wages were not paid on time, having previously happened in March.

At present, they are under five EFL embargoes and wages have not been paid on time in five of the past seven months.

The highly-rated Rohl, who has now taken over at Rangers, departed in July and his assistant Henrik Pedersen took charge with the club unable to add to their small playing squad because of the financial issues.

As well as protests before and during games this season, fans boycotted the EFL Cup ties with Leeds United and Grimsby Town, while a small number entered the field of play to temporarily halt the 5-0 home reverse by Coventry City and there was then a mass boycott of the league game with Middlesbrough.

Chansiri has been absent from the club for the whole period of turmoil.

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