NafisaSheffield Wednesday face intensified scrutiny and the possibility of a prolonged transfer ban following yet another delay in the disbursement of player salaries – the second such occurrence in recent months.
Rob Staton of BBC Radio Sheffield disclosed on Friday that insiders confirmed May’s salary payments were not completed on time, mirroring issues experienced in March that were only resolved several weeks later.
The Owls are now treading dangerously close to violating the EFL’s 30-day rule for the second occasion this year – and with that comes the growing threat of a transfer ban spanning three windows.
Unpaid salaries leave Sheffield Wednesday vulnerable to three-window transfer ban:
In April, it emerged that the Owls were given a Monday deadline to settle outstanding wages from March or face immediate EFL punishment.
At that point, club chairman Dejphon Chansiri acknowledged to The Star that he couldn’t promise the payment would be made by the cutoff, attributing the delay to personal business funds being tied up.
Although it is believed that backroom and administrative staff eventually received their pay, and that players were paid in early April, this new delay rekindles concerns about the club’s short-term financial stability.
If the unpaid salaries from May surpass the 30-day limit without being rectified, Wednesday could be automatically placed under embargo – potentially with no option for appeal – due to the EFL’s updated rules.
These regulations state that clubs must not accumulate 30 days’ worth of overdue HMRC or wage payments across any 12-month stretch starting from July 1. With this being the second known breach since October 2024, the Owls’ room for maneuver is alarmingly narrow.
Sheffield Wednesday fans enraged by lack of communication:
Anger among the Owls faithful continues to grow.
Communication from the hierarchy has been minimal, and with the summer transfer market and a potential managerial search looming, fans are calling for transparency regarding the club’s immediate direction.
Social media has been flooded with concern, with many pointing to persistent issues under Chansiri’s leadership and suggesting that a change in ownership might be the only practical solution.
This latest payment delay comes as criticism of Chansiri’s tenure intensifies, with fans increasingly outspoken in their calls for a new direction.
The club’s Supporters Trust has coordinated protests at the conclusion of the 24/25 campaign, spotlighting widespread discontent with the current leadership’s management of Wednesday’s operations.
Two takeover proposals from a Florida-based group were turned down by Chansiri earlier this year, while reported Saudi interest has cooled, with Turki Al-Sheikh now shifting his focus to southern clubs.
For fans already weary from years of instability under Chansiri’s control, the most recent salary delay marks yet another disheartening setback.
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