Sheffield Wednesday Face Winding-Up Petition Over Unpaid HMRC Bill
Sheffield Wednesday are on the brink of being served with a winding-up petition due to an outstanding debt of £1 million owed to HMRC. The revelation, stemming from a joint investigation by BBC Radio Sheffield and the Sheffield Star, intensifies the pressure on owner Dejphon Chansiri to consider a sale of the club.
The Championship club’s financial woes have been mounting, with the looming winding-up petition adding to their existing challenges. Wednesday are already operating under five separate EFL embargoes, a consequence of repeated failures to pay wages on time in five of the past seven months.
A winding-up petition is a legal action taken against a company that cannot pay its debts. If successful, it can lead to the company being forced into liquidation, raising serious concerns about the future of Sheffield Wednesday.
The BBC has reached out to Sheffield Wednesday for comment on the matter.
On the field, the club’s struggles are evident. They currently sit second bottom of the Championship, having amassed just six points from their opening nine games. A turbulent period off the field has left the squad depleted and morale low.
The club’s financial difficulties first came to light when May’s wages were not paid on time, mirroring a similar incident in March. The ensuing uncertainty and registration embargoes led to the departure of highly-rated manager Danny Rohl in July. His assistant, Henrik Pedersen, stepped in just ten days before the start of the season.
Adding to the chaos, Sheffield Wednesday did not play a single pre-season friendly in front of their fans. Players even withdrew from a training match against Burnley after July’s wages went unpaid.
Frustrated by the situation, fans have organized protests before and during games this season. They also boycotted the home EFL Cup ties against Leeds and Grimsby, and the supporters’ trust urged fans to refrain from purchasing drinks and snacks inside the stadium.
Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, who has owned the club for a decade, has been absent throughout this tumultuous period. Despite the growing pressure, no sale of the club appears imminent.
