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Daily Mirror
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Sheffield Wednesday crisis leads to major new concern ahead of new Championship season
Sheffield Wednesday are in a major financial crisis ahead of the new Championship season under owner Dejphon Chansiri, having repeatedly failed to pay their players The English Football League (EFL) are becoming increasingly concerned about the situation at Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are in crisis, having failed to pay its players for the third month in a row under owner Dejphon Chansiri. Wednesday's friendly match against Burnley has been cancelled, with their players unwilling to turn out. A number of players have already left this summer after ending their contracts, with Josh Windass, Michael Smith, Akin Famewo, Callum Paterson, Mallik Wilks, Pol Valentin and Michael Ihiekwe all moving on. And a report from BBC Sport states that EFL is now worried the club will not be able to fulfil their opening Championship game against Leicester on August 10. The EFL charged both Chansiri and the club back in June for breaching their rules by failing to pay wages. The Professional Footballers' Association has also been supporting the players, with CEO Maheta Molango describing the situation as "shocking". Molango said last month: "Unfortunately, Sheffield Wednesday have a pattern of late payments — I think it's the third time in four months. "We've been in touch with the players. Our role is not to tell them what they need to do, (it is) to give them the tools and say, 'this is what you could do if those criteria are met'. "Then it is for them to assess what they want to do. I wouldn't take it for granted that just because certain criteria are met, automatically someone just terminates their contract. There are other considerations. "It's not an easy situation, as you can imagine, because ultimately, you know, people need to be paid. For me, it's a bit shocking because normally this is stuff you see in other countries I have played in, but not in England. "So, we really want to be strong on that. This is something that we will not tolerate and we will be very much on top of it. It's not a good situation but we hope that somehow there could be a positive resolution to it." Chansiri said back in June that he had rejected two offers to sell the club, stating: "I take full responsibility for being unable to fulfil my current obligations, but a further obligation I have is to ensure that if the club is sold, it is sold to the right people with the right credentials who can sustain Sheffield Wednesday and take the club forward. "I understand our fans are not happy and wish for me to sell, which some have said when contacting me direct. All I ask is please do not believe everything you read in the media or on social media. "I repeat that I am willing to sell but the deal must be correct on all fronts – it is not just about the price. I have been seriously engaging in looking for investment from new parties, and continue to do so to quickly remedy this situation. "I also understand the frustrations of everyone at this difficult time. I can only apologise to our people once again and assure you all that I am doing everything I can, every minute of every day, to ensure the situation is resolved in the best possible way for now and the future."
South Wales Argus
11 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return
Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. Lockyer also collapsed during Luton's Sky Bet Championship play-off final win against Coventry in 2023 (Adam Davy/PA) The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.
Rhyl Journal
12 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
I'm four weeks away – Tom Lockyer reveals he is closing in on football return
Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023. The 30-year-old Wales defender had previously collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. A post shared by Sky Sports Football (@skysportsfootball) Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Luton, relegated in May for the second successive season, told Lockyer his contract would not be renewed when it expired this summer. But they have allowed him to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation. The former Bristol Rovers centre-back, who led Luton to Premier League promotion in 2023, added: 'They've been fantastic and have allowed me to come in and use the facilities and the knowledge of all the physios, so I can't thank them enough for that. 'It allows me to stay among the team spirit – there's a good one here. There's been a few changes, but they're trying to hold on to that ethos that no-one is bigger than the team and I absolutely love that. 'It's allowed me to go in every day, still be around it, still feel involved and I'm just itching to get back now.' Lockyer, who has had a defibrillator fitted similar to former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, snapped an ankle ligament during his return to full fitness, which required two operations.
