Sheffield Wednesday’s decline, which accelerated with the summer departure of manager Danny Röhl over unpaid wages, has hit rock bottom. The club is in administration, has been deducted 12 points, and now sits on -6, 15 points from safety.
The situation “has been deteriorating sharply” since the summer, when Röhl and key players left. The club began the season with only 15 first-team players and has been “living hand-to-mouth,” failing to pay wages on time in five of the last seven months.
Owner Dejphon Chansiri, facing a $pounds{}$1 million tax bill and an imminent winding-up petition from HMRC, placed the club into administration. The move, while devastating, was met with “overjoyed” reactions from fans who blame Chansiri’s “financial mismanagement” for the club’s plight.
Manager Henrik Pedersen, who has been steering the depleted squad, called the move a necessary “fresh restart.” He told “emotional” staff that he sees a “bright future” and, against all odds, “a big belief we can survive.”
Administrator Begbies Traynor is now in charge, seeking a “swift sale” of the club and stadium. The Supporters Trust is calling for a “phase of renewal,” urging boycotting fans to return and provide much-needed income.