Sheffield Wednesday are facing an almost certain relegation to League One after a 12-point administration penalty left them 15 points adrift of safety. The club now sits at the bottom of the Championship on -6 points after owner Dejphon Chansiri appointed administrators.
The club’s financial situation has been “deteriorating sharply” since the summer. Unpaid wages led to the departure of key players and former manager Danny Röhl, leaving the club with a skeleton squad. The club also owes an estimated $pounds{}$1 million in taxes.
The administration ends the controversial Chansiri era, a move fans described as “bittersweet.” The Supporters Trust said it was “overjoyed” by his departure, which they blamed for “years of financial mismanagement.”
Manager Henrik Pedersen, however, is not conceding relegation. “I have a big belief we can survive in the Championship with this group of players,” he said. He framed the administration as a “fresh restart” for the “fantastic club.”
Administrator Begbies Traynor is now in charge and will market the club and its stadium “as a whole.” They are seeking a “swift sale” while the Supporters Trust, which had prepared a fan-led takeover bid, is calling on fans to return and provide much-needed income.