The EFL is confident Sheffield Wednesday will pay its players this week – and be in a position to play its opening fixture of the season on Sunday.
Solidarity payments are due to drop from the Premier League in the near future, which mean that the financially-stricken Championship side should be able to ensure the players that remain will finally get their monthly pay packet.
With under-fire owner Dejphon Chansiri attempting to sell amid an ongoing crisis at Hillsborough, wages for players and staff have been late four months out of five and for the last three months in a row.
Players who remain at the club, after a summer of upheaval, remain unpaid for this month and refused to play in last weekend’s scheduled friendly at Burnley in a form of protest.
A statement from the group released earlier this week suggested they could take similar action when the season starts and there were serious concerns within the EFL that Sunday’s clash at Leicester may not go ahead.
However, talks between the EFL and the club are ongoing and, with the arrival of cash from the top flight, immediate concerns have been allayed. Despite the above, the situation remains grave. Wednesday’s North stand has been closed and may well not be open for the home opener against Stoke City.
The EFL is confident Sheffield Wednesday will pay its players this week – and be in a position to play its opening fixture of the season
Wednesday’s North stand has been closed and may well not be open for the home opener against Stoke City
Sheffield Wednesday – owned by Dejphon Chansiri, who claims he is trying to sell the club – appeared to be at risk of being unable to start the Championship season on August 10
Mail Sport understands there is a belief within the EFL that Chansiri is trying to sell although discussions are believed to have taken place with advisors, rather than the Thai businessman himself.
Should a buyer be found, the EFL is ready to speed up its approval process.In a lengthy statement, the EFL spoke of its concerns and frustrations over the ‘developing challenges’ at the club.
‘The League wants to see a strong, stable and competitive Sheffield Wednesday, and for that to happen we are clear that the current owner needs either to fund the Club to meet its obligations or make good on his commitment to sell to a well-funded party, for fair market value – ending the current uncertainty and impasse,’ it read.
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‘We continue to pursue options available to us to resolve the current challenges, and to that end the League is currently in advanced discussions with Mr Chansiri’s legal advisors on formalising a process around divestment of his shareholding in the Club.
‘The EFL Board met on Wednesday morning to receive a comprehensive update and, following recent speculation, the League can confirm that there are no restrictions on the Club starting the season on Sunday as planned.
’The statement also gave an update on disciplinary proceedings against Wednesday for the myriad of financial issues.‘The Club has now surpassed 30 days of late payments for the year beginning 1 July 2025. As a result, the Club’s fee restriction has been extended to the end of the winter transfer window in the 2026/27 Season.
‘The EFL can also confirm that the Club was placed under a further embargo for non-payment of players.’