THE Owls’ financial issues have spiralled recently; they now owe £1 million in HMRC tax bills and have entered administration.
This is the latest in a series of blows served by owner Dejphon Chansiri, who failed to pay player and staff wages on time on five occasions in the last seven months.
Administration has followed after they were close to being served with a winding-up petition last week. Sheffield Wednesday fans boycotted their 1-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday; there were under 4,000 home fans, with the visitors the greater proportion.
The Owls branch has snapped, and administration leaves them crumpled at the bottom of the Championship tree. Already at the foot of the table, the administration’s standardised 12-point deduction has left them 15 points from safety.
Former manager Steve Bruce said: “It’s a magnificent club and it’s sad to see the state that it’s in. When you hear administration, you fear for everybody involved.
“I was only there three or four months, but it was certainly eventful. I think everybody who has worked under him or played under him would say exactly the same thing.”
Fans’ frustrations were clear as a collection invaded the pitch during their recent 5-0 mauling at the hands of Coventry. They demanded the sale of their football club, and from a rare optimistic perspective, this should only be accelerated by the administration bombshell.
Previously, Chansiri’s valuation of the club has been viewed as unrealistic after he paid £40 million for the club ten years ago.
Sheffield Wednesday are due to face Southampton at St Mary’s in two weeks time.
