Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, their famous name woven into the tapestry of the game. Formed in 1867, elected to the Football League in 1892, founder members of the Premier League, four times champions of England, three times winners of the FA Cup, and the League Cup once. Such honours may be far back in history but Wednesday remain a powerful force in many lives, in families, communities, in Sheffield and beyond.
It would be devastating to Wednesday supporters and deeply damaging to the reputation of English football if Wednesday lost their membership of the EFL because of the behaviour of an owner in Dejphon Chansiri who passed initial EFL ownership tests, was welcomed (letโs not forget), but turned out to be shamelessly irresponsible. Wednesday fans fear the club's existence might be at risk if the EFL imposes further punishments and restrictions that deter potential buyers.
Stronger oversight of owners is clearly required and the EFL and PL did tighten their rules in 2023. The new Independent Football Regulator will introduce a proper licensing system for clubs and better oversight of owners. Unfortunately, the IFR did not come into force early enough to prevent Wednesday's downward slide under Chansiri.
Wednesday are currently in administration and threatened with further EFL sanctions โ a 15-point deduction for next season. This season's 18-point deduction all but guaranteed relegation from the Championship (confirmed on Feb 22). The League applies sanctions as punishment for debts and also as a deterrent to other clubs/owners.
The EFL emphasises it is working with all parties to โtry and find a solution that can see Sheffield Wednesday continue as a member of the League....but ultimately we have to also apply the terms of the Leagueโs insolvency policyโฆwhich seeks to balance the interests, not only of Sheffield Wednesday, but also of the other 71 clubsโ.
Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust, fighting hard for their clubโs survival, has now released a copy of the EFLโs insolvency policy and argues that it gives the League, in the Trustโs words, โabsolute discretion when determining how to deal with clubs experiencing an insolvency eventโ.
The Trust argues that โโฆfurther punitive sanctions risk undermining the very factors the EFL states it must consider - including the effect on supporters, the impact on the local community and the wider credibility of the league itself.
โSheffield Wednesday supporters are not seeking advantage over other clubs. It is entirely right that all EFL clubs should be treated fairly and consistently. That principle must include Sheffield Wednesday that has already suffered enormously during a decade in which the EFLโs own regulatory oversight failed to prevent the damage that unfolded.
โWe urge the EFL to apply its own guidance responsibly and ensure that the focus now is on allowing the club to recover, stabilise and move forward under new ownership. Sheffield Wednesday supporters have suffered enough.โ #SWFC #EFL @SWFCTrust
What an incredible end to the season!
The fight, the determination, the set backs, the comebacks, three wins on the bounce to finish the season!
WE ARE STAYING UP, WE ARE STAYING UP!
Cameron Dawson has faced 10 shots on target in his last 4 games.
8 out of the 10 have gone in.
Iโm not having Vasquez isnโt good enough
The Cardiff result relegated us
#swfc
Cameron Dawson has faced 10 shots on target in his last 4 games.
8 out of the 10 have gone in.
Iโm not having Vasquez isnโt good enough
The Cardiff result relegated us
#swfc