EFL Drops New Hammer on Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday’s season descended further into crisis on Monday after the English Football League (EFL) imposed another six-point deduction on the club—confirming fears inside Hillsborough that a second punishment was imminent.

The latest sanction, issued for “multiple breaches of EFL regulations relating to payment obligations,” pushes Wednesday to -10 points at the bottom of the Championship, deepening the fallout from the club’s October administration and their earlier 12-point deduction.

Financial turmoil that refuses to end

The punishment lands at a moment when the Owls are already fighting fires on multiple fronts. The club entered administration in October, triggering their initial points deduction and exposing a long-running pattern of delayed payments. According to the EFL, Wednesday repeatedly failed to pay staff and players on time—a key violation that triggered this fresh penalty.

EFL officials underlined the seriousness of those breaches. “Sheffield Wednesday FC are to be deducted six points with immediate effect for multiple breaches of EFL Regulations relating to payment obligations,” the League confirmed in a formal statement. The organization also ruled that former owner Dejphon Chansiri is banned from owning or directing any EFL club for three years, effectively ending his immediate role in English football.

It is another staggering turn in a financial saga that has dominated the club since Chansiri’s 2015 takeover. Tax debts, delayed salaries, and repeated embargoes plagued the club long before this season’s administration.

The response from the League—and what still hangs over Wednesday

The EFL says this will be the final points penalty the club faces for issues tied to the 2025-26 season and before administration proceedings began. While investigations by the independent Club Financial Reporting Unit remain ongoing, the League confirmed it is not seeking any further deductions.

That distinction matters. Sheffield Wednesday will finish this season with an 18-point hit—no more, no less. But financial controls remain in place as talks continue between the EFL and administrators regarding the club’s exit from administration.

The Owls have already appealed a fee restriction embargo that blocks them from lifting spending limitations until after the January 2027 transfer window. The League suggested that the dispute may be resolved as part of the administration process, adding, “No further comment will be made at this time.”

A crisis years in the making

This isn’t a sudden collapse. Before administrators Julian Pitts, Kris Wigfield, and Paul Stanley took charge in October, staff and player wages were delayed in five of the previous seven months. In the summer, Wednesdays were hit by multiple embargoes as debts mounted and salaries went unpaid.

And yet, even amid chaos, there are signs of movement. Wigfield recently revealed that 12 interested parties have demonstrated proof of funds totalling £50 million. Administrators hope to announce a preferred bidder by December 5.

Could new ownership finally end the turmoil? Or is this simply the latest chapter in a long-running decline?

The sporting implications: can Wednesday survive?

From a footballing perspective, Wednesday now faces a brutal climb to safety. Starting the campaign on negative points is difficult enough; a total deduction of 18 has reshaped the season’s objectives. Every match becomes a survival test. Every point matters twice as much.

Beyond the standings, reputational damage looms. What does this mean for recruitment? For fans? For the club’s future identity?

And more immediate questions arise:

• Can a takeover stabilize the club quickly enough?
• Will the administrators prevent further wage issues?
• How long does it take to repair trust in a community-driven club like Wednesday?

The road ahead

This latest ruling doesn’t close the book on Sheffield Wednesday’s problems, but it does define the terms of the battle. The team sits at the bottom of the Championship, the ownership era under Chansiri is effectively over, and the administrators face a race against time to find new investment.

 

What happens next—on the pitch and off it—will determine whether Wednesday’s nightmare season becomes a temporary setback or a long-term crisis. The punishment may be final, but the consequences are only beginning to unfold.