Sheffield Wednesday are facing the threat of an automatic points deduction after failing to pay first-team wages on time once again.
The Championship strugglers remain mired in financial turmoil under owner Dejphon Chansiri, with growing calls for a sale as uncertainty deepens at Hillsborough.
Now Oct 1, #swfc deadline has passed. I’m told all youth players and some admin staff paid y’day, but first team not paid. New EFL sanctions will now be automatically applied. Size of wrap sheet, when it comes to independent commission, means a points deduction almost inevitable. https://t.co/o1hScuDj5l
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) October 1, 2025
Players Go Unpaid
According to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, only youth players and some administrative staff received wages on schedule. Senior professionals were not paid before the October 1 deadline, triggering the prospect of sanctions under new EFL rules. With a long list of breaches already recorded, the likelihood of a deduction is now considered “almost inevitable.”
The news came just hours before Wednesday’s 2-2 draw away at Birmingham City. Despite the disruption, Henrik Pedersen’s side delivered a battling performance, with a late equaliser denying them victory but still extending their unbeaten run to three games. However, the result did little to distract from the deepening crisis off the pitch.
Refusal to Train Considered
Reports prior to kick-off suggested some players had even discussed refusing to train in protest, underlining the gravity of the situation. For a squad already short on confidence after just one win in eight league games, further instability threatens to derail survival hopes.
Chansiri, who has faced years of protests from supporters, remains under pressure to complete a sale. With uncertainty surrounding the club’s finances and repeated delays in salary payments, frustration among fans and staff alike is mounting. The EFL’s stance leaves little margin for error, and punishment now appears certain unless an urgent resolution is found.
Pedersen’s Response
Speaking after the draw, Pedersen admitted the off-field issues had overshadowed preparations but praised the spirit shown by his players in difficult circumstances.
“My emotions are a little bit mixed. The negative is that we have lost two points at the end. But in the big picture, there is a very proud emotion inside me because of the performance my players have delivered today in a difficult situation.
“We conceded a goal and they stayed together. You can always find a reason not to do something but we stayed together. It wasn’t about tactics, tonight was about the basic level of humanity.”
Writer’s View
For Wednesday, the prospect of a points deduction could be the decisive blow in their fight for Championship survival. Already in the relegation zone, the Owls risk being cut adrift if sanctions are imposed. While Pedersen and his squad deserve credit for producing results against the odds, the financial chaos engulfing the club shows little sign of easing.
Until Chansiri resolves ownership and stabilises the wage situation, Wednesday’s future at this level remains in serious jeopardy.
