A new era has begun at Hillsborough, but it starts with a devastating 12-point penalty. Owner Dejphon Chansiri has placed Sheffield Wednesday into administration, ending his controversial tenure but plunging the club to -6 points at the bottom of the Championship.
The club is now 15 points from safety, with relegation almost certain. The administration follows “years of financial mismanagement,” according to the Supporters Trust, which left the club with $pounds{}$1 million in unpaid taxes and a staff that has gone unpaid in five of the last seven months.
Fans, who have been boycotting games, celebrated Chansiri’s exit. The trust said it was “overjoyed” to see him gone, and seats with his name were quickly dismantled.
Manager Henrik Pedersen described the day as both “sad” and “good,” stressing the need for a “fresh restart.” He told his “emotional” staff he sees a “bright future” and still believes survival is possible.
The club is now in the hands of Begbies Traynor, who will market the club and stadium together to new buyers. The Supporters Trust is urging fans to return and provide the “stability and income” needed for the rebuild.