Sheffield Wednesday, one of England’s oldest football clubs, has entered administration, marking a dramatic and emotional turning point for the storied club and its supporters. The English Football League (EFL) confirmed on Friday, October 24, 2025, that the Owls have been automatically deducted 12 points, a penalty that leaves them stranded at the foot of the Championship table on minus six points—13 points adrift of safety with a daunting climb ahead.
The announcement came after months of mounting financial turmoil, repeated EFL charges, and an increasingly toxic relationship between the club’s now-former owner, Dejphon Chansiri, and a disillusioned fanbase. The Owls’ statement on Friday afternoon confirmed the appointment of insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor as administrators, ending Chansiri’s controversial reign at Hillsborough.
“The EFL can confirm that it has now received formal notice that Dejphon Chansiri, the director of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, has taken the necessary steps to appoint administrators to both the club and also the company which owns Hillsborough,” read the league’s statement. “Whilst this development results in the automatic deduction of 12 points in accordance with regulations agreed by all clubs, it also presents Sheffield Wednesday with the opportunity to move matters towards a successful sale and secure a future under new ownership.”
The club’s financial struggles have been well documented over recent months. Reports indicate that Wednesday owed approximately £1 million to HMRC in unpaid tax, and the club had failed to pay players and staff on time on five occasions this year alone. A winding-up petition from the tax authorities was believed to be imminent, and the EFL had imposed multiple embargoes and restrictions on the club’s operations. All the while, the team’s performances on the pitch have mirrored the chaos off it—just one win in their opening 11 league games left them bottom of the Championship even before the points deduction.
For many supporters, administration is a bittersweet moment. The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust described it as “one of the most bittersweet days in our club’s proud 158-year history.” Their statement continued, “Administration represents a necessary turning point. With the club now totally out of Chansiri’s hands, this may be the first step to getting our Wednesday back. It closes an era defined by poor decisions and deep divisions, both on and off the pitch.”
Chansiri’s tenure, which began with high hopes in 2015, has ended in bitterness. The Thai businessman’s stewardship was marred by financial mismanagement, repeated late payment of wages, and a disconnect from the fanbase. Supporters have staged protests throughout the season, including a notable demonstration outside the Thai embassy in London and a near-empty home end during the recent clash against Middlesbrough. Attendance at Hillsborough has plummeted from an average of over 26,000 last season to just over 17,000—a stark indicator of supporter unrest.
Images circulated on social media showing seats spelling out Chansiri’s name in the North Stand being ripped out, symbolic of the fans’ desire to move on. In a show of renewed hope, queues formed outside the stadium as fans rushed to buy tickets for Saturday’s match against Oxford United, eager to support the club in its hour of need.
Joint administrator Kris Wigfield, a lifelong Wednesday supporter, issued a heartfelt plea: “Supporters are the backbone of any football club. The money they spend at the gate and in the ground is vital. I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1984 and know first-hand the passion of this fanbase. Now, more than ever, we need fans back in the ground—buying tickets, merchandise, pies and pints. Every penny spent will go directly to supporting the day-to-day running of this club, not to the former owner or professional costs. This will help stabilise the club and support the loyal players and staff while we secure a suitable buyer.”
The players themselves have echoed this call for unity. In a statement to supporters, the squad said, “Whilst we fully understand your stance and the measures you have took to force change, as a group, not having you in the ground has been felt by all of us. After what has been a period of division and a feeling of ‘disconnect’ between the club, the players and the fans, we now hope this is the time we can all come back together under the badge and enjoy our football again!” They urged fans to “come back to Hillsborough and cheer the team on,” reminding them of famous comebacks and victories in the club’s history.
Captain Barry Bannan, a stalwart through thick and thin, admitted he was “gutted” by the news but struck a note of optimism: “Sometimes you have to reach rock bottom to come back again. And if there was ever a club that could do it, it’s this club, because the fan base we’ve got is amazing.”
The government’s culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, weighed in on the crisis, highlighting the need for better regulation of football club ownership: “For the fans, staff and players of Sheffield Wednesday this is an extremely worrying situation. Having been in this position with my own team, Wigan Athletic, I know everyone who loves the club will be hoping for a resolution as soon as possible. Situations like this are exactly why this government set up the new Independent Football Regulator. Owners should be good custodians who act with their club’s best interests in mind and clearly, in this instance, that has not been the case.”
The EFL has pledged to work closely with the administrators to “end the ongoing uncertainty faced by Sheffield Wednesday staff, management, players, supporters and all those associated with the club and their local community.” Meanwhile, the Supporters’ Trust has reassured fans that, even if a buyer does not emerge, they have developed a “credible, fan-led takeover proposal” to ensure the club’s survival and avoid liquidation.
Saturday’s match against Oxford United at Hillsborough will go ahead as planned, with the players and fans alike determined to show their unity and resilience. The Supporters’ Trust has called on fans to rise together in the 10th minute to show appreciation for the players and staff who have kept the club alive through these turbulent times.
As the dust settles on a tumultuous week, Sheffield Wednesday faces an uncertain but hopeful future. The Chansiri era is over, and while the path back to stability and success will be steep, the club’s passionate supporters are already rallying behind a new vision—one rooted in community, transparency, and the enduring spirit of Hillsborough.
