Chris Waddle slams Sheffield Wednesday situation - 'it's absolutely pathetic' | OneFootball

Chris Waddle has slammed the EFL's decision to deduct Sheffield Wednesday 15 points next season

Chris Waddle has weighed in on the 15-point deduction that Sheffield Wednesday are set to be handed by the EFL next season.

The deduction will come as a result of the fact that preferred bidder David Storch's takeover offer fell below the amount required to pay creditors 25p in the pound.

Wednesday remain in administration, but Storch has made positive steps towards guiding the South Yorkshire outfit to their next chapter, and has begun the process of the EFL's Owners' and Directors' Test.

The Owls have won just one Championship game this season, and were beaten 3-1 by Hull City in their last fixture before the March international break despite taking the lead through Jamal Lowe.

Chris Waddle slams EFL decision to deduct Sheffield Wednesday 15 points

Wednesday have already been deducted 18 points this season, as a result of former owner Dejphon Chansiri's financial wrongdoings, which acted as a catalyst towards their relegation to League One.

The Owls' drop to the third tier was painfully confirmed when they were beaten 2-1 by fierce rivals Sheffield United in February's Steel City Derby.

Alongside their 15-point deduction, Wednesday's weekly wages are also set to be capped at £7k per player next term.

Meanwhile, Owls legend Chris Waddle spoke to the Yorkshire Post about the EFL's decision to hand his former club a further 15-point deduction: "It's shocking. We know the rules, but to take another 15 off them is absolutely ridiculous.

"They've had the punishment, they've got relegated. Let somebody come in and take the club on and take the club forward. And why are they getting punished like that again? It's absolutely pathetic.

"Chelsea basically cheated their way to some trophies and get a £10million fine. Why are they not getting a 15-point deduction? No disrespect to Chelsea.

"It's not a lot of money to them, so they've not been punished and stripped of titles or trophies. We're still waiting on the Man City one and I think that will probably come out in about another 50 years.

"It's easy to kick a team when they're down, but they're scared of the big boys."

Chris Waddle comments put EFL under further pressure as Sheffield Wednesday punishment looms

Wednesday have already endured one of the toughest seasons in their history, as Chansiri's failure to pay staff players on time led to several prominent departures last summer.

The Owls' subsequent time in administration also led to a difficult winter transfer window, with club legend Barry Bannan leaving Hillsborough to join Millwall.

Following such a tough campaign this time around, the South Yorkshire club deserve far better next season, but their upcoming 15-point deduction, alongside their strict wage cap, will make it tough for Henrik Pedersen's men to avoid a further relegation to League Two.

Storch's consortium have appointed sports lawyer Nick De Marco, who could challenge the EFL's restrictions.

Meanwhile, speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield last month, Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said Wednesday shouldn't be handed a 15-point deduction: "One thing I'm going to work with the Supporters' Trust on immediately, whoever the preferred bidder is, is to say to the EFL: 'This club has been through so much.'

"You can't now seriously expect any new owner to pay money to Chansiri after what he's done to our club. And to threaten that owner with a points deduction if they don't pay him.

"So, I think there's a big effort there to make sure, no more points deductions, no more money to Chansiri, we've simply had enough of the past and want to move forward."

Prominent voices such as Betts challenging the point deduction put the EFL under pressure, and the fact that Waddle has now weighed in on the situation could also help the Owls as they strive for a more positive future.