Sheffield Wednesday players refuse to play friendly as wages are delayed again
The Owls appointed Henrik Pedersen as their new head coach on Thursday following the departure of Danny Rohl and, just hours later, Saturday's friendly was cancelled as players and coaching staff decided to boycott the match after not receiving July's monthly salary on time.
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has been in talks to sell the club (Mike Egerton/PA)
Rohl left Hillsborough on Tuesday during a chaotic summer which has seen Wednesday placed under a number of embargoes because of financial issues.
Players were paid late in May and June, while this is the fourth time in the last five months that salaries have been delayed.
PA understands there is increasing concern within the EFL over the growing crisis at the club and that extends to whether Wednesday will be able to fulfil their opening Sky Bet Championship fixture at Leicester on August 10.
Thai businessman Chansiri completed his takeover from previous owner Milan Mandaric January 2015 for a reported £30million and the club twice went close to promotion to the Premier League when losing out in the 2016 and 2017 play-offs.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Henrik Pedersen as our new manager.
The Dane takes the S6 reins with immediate effect#swfc pic.twitter.com/ofoEPX1Xsm
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) July 31, 2025
Since then Wednesday have lurched from one financial crisis to another.
They were first placed under an EFL embargo in 2017 over profitability and sustainability rules and were docked 12 points – reduced to six on appeal – at the start of the 2020-21 season for further financial breaches.
The Owls were placed under embargo for late salary payments to players and staff in 2024, while a player registration embargo is also in place for unpaid transfer fees.
New boss Pedersen admitted the club were in 'rough waters' following his appointment, with registration restrictions and the departure of several key players leaving him with a threadbare squad.
Josh Windass joined Wrexham after his Wednesday contract was ended by mutual consent (Mike Egerton/PA)
Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba have been sold this summer to Rangers and Samsunspor respectively, while Josh Windass and Michael Smith had their contracts terminated by mutual consent to allow them to join Wrexham and Preston.
The latest missed payments to players and staff heaps further pressure on Chansiri, who insists he is willing to sell the club for the right price.
He recently revealed he had rejected one consortium's £40million bid, while talks with various other interested parties have stalled.
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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
EFL in advanced discussions with Dejphon Chansiri over Sheffield Wednesday sale
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South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
EFL in advanced discussions with Dejphon Chansiri over Sheffield Wednesday sale
Wednesday have lurched from one crisis to another in recent seasons and are currently under various EFL-imposed embargoes for financial breaches, including late payment of wages to players and staff. Salaries were not paid on time for the third successive month in July and players refused to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Burnley last Saturday. That heightened concern within the EFL that the club would not be able to fulfil Sunday's game at Leicester, but the players have since confirmed they will play in their opening Sky Bet Championship fixture. Chansiri, who bought the Owls for £37.5million in 2015, has said he is ready to sell at the right price, but has confirmed he has turned down one bid for £40m, while talks with various other interested parties have stalled. The EFL said in a statement on Wednesday that it was working closely with Chansiri in his bid to find a buyer. The governing body said: '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. '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 said there were 'no restrictions on the club starting the season on Sunday as planned' and that it had been in 'daily contact' with Wednesday. 'While much of this focuses on our work to safeguard Sheffield Wednesday's financial position and ability to fulfil its obligations, the League also has a duty to fairly and consistently apply its regulations, which are agreed by all member clubs, and ensure that other member clubs are not unfairly disadvantaged,' the EFL said. Wednesday have been under embargoes for failing to pay money owed to HMRC and other clubs for transfer fees as well as for late payment of player and staff wages. 'The club has now surpassed 30 days of late payments for the year beginning July 1, 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 added. 'The EFL can also confirm that the club was placed under a further embargo for non-payment of players.' Under EFL rules, the delayed payments allowed key players Josh Windass and Michael Smith to walk away from their contracts for free to join Wrexham and Preston respectively, while it has been reported defender Max Lowe has also handed in his notice. Amid the summer chaos, former manager Danny Rohl initially failed to return for pre-season training before eventually departing by mutual agreement and being replaced by his assistant Henrik Pedersen. #SWFC #EnoughlsEnough #WAWAW — Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust (@SWFCTrust) August 3, 2025 Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor said he was 'definitely interested' in buying the Owls, but had not yet made any approach to Chansiri. The Owls have sold out their allocation for Sunday's trip to the King Power Stadium, where Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust has planned a large-scale protest. The Trust has called on fans to delay entry to their seats until five minutes after kick-off, while a large banner will be displayed in 'a visibly empty away end'.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Most homes that lost power during Storm Floris reconnected
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