Sheffield Wednesday are on -6 points and facing a near-impossible fight for Championship survival after being deducted 12 points for entering administration. Owner Dejphon Chansiri filed for administration, ending his chaotic reign but plunging the club into a deep sporting crisis.
The Owls are now 15 points from safety. The club’s financial collapse is rooted in “years of financial mismanagement,” according to the Supporters Trust. This includes $pounds{}$1 million in unpaid taxes and a failure to pay staff and players on time in five of the last seven months.
The news was met with a mix of relief and despair by fans, who called it a “bittersweet” day. They are “overjoyed” to see Chansiri leave but devastated by the penalty. Seats spelling his name at Hillsborough were promptly removed.
Administrator Begbies Traynor is now in charge, tasked with finding a new owner “as swiftly as possible.” They will sell the club and the stadium as a combined entity. Manager Henrik Pedersen called the move a necessary “fresh restart” for the “fantastic club.”
Despite the bleak league position, Pedersen remains defiant. “I have a big belief we can survive in the Championship,” he said. His immediate focus will be rallying a depleted squad for Saturday’s home game against Oxford, where thousands of fans are expected to return following their boycotts.