Sheffield Wednesday’s punishment, if found guilty of breaching English Football League [EFL] rules, could be more severe than the one Birmingham City received earlier this year, according to The Telegraph’s John Percy.
The EFL announced in a statement earlier that it has ‘issued (the Owls) a number of charges relating to alleged (financial) breaches’.
These concern the £60 million sale of Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium to the Championship club’s Thai owner, Dejphon Chansiri, which ensured a £38m profit and allowed them to circumvent the league’s profit and sustainability [P&S] rules.
Others, namely Derby County, Aston Villa and Reading – but not Birmingham – have adopted similar measures, although it is the timing of Sheffield Wednesday’s transaction, which according to Land Registry documents occurred nearly a year later than stated, that has led to accusations of misconduct.
According to the EFL’s website, the possible sanctions faced by Wednesday include a points deduction, heavy fine or expulsion from the league.
Birmingham were docked nine points for breaching P&S rules while the current Owls manager, Garry Monk, was at the helm, but avoided all of the others.
Monk, though, can be absolved of any of the blame for Wednesday’s issues, which pre-date his arrival in early September.
Sheffield Wednesday have issued a statement of their own insisting that ‘(the) charges will be vigorously defended’.