Sheffield Wednesday hit with huge points deduction as administration confirmed | OneFootball

Dejphon Chansiri's controversial ownership over as crisis-stricken Owls hope for rescue

Sheffield Wednesday have announced they have entered administration, with the EFL confirming the club have been docked 12 points immediately.

The Owls, whose financial difficulties have been well documented in recent months, issued a statement on Friday afternoon announcing the appointment of administrators.

The EFL followed with a statement of its own which confirmed the 12-point sanction for entering administration but pointed out the process "presents Sheffield Wednesday with the opportunity to move matters towards a successful sale and secure future under new ownership".

Wednesday said they had appointed insolvency firm Begbies Traynor as administrators, with Dejphon Chansiri's controversial ownership of the club now over.

Joint administrator Kris Wigfield said: "Like many football clubs, (Sheffield Wednesday) have been trading at a significant loss for several years, with those losses historically funded by the former owner Mr Chansiri.

"Due to increased financial pressure on the club, the owner has chosen to place the club and the stadium company into administration which will enable us to market the club and the stadium as a whole, which is great news for supporters of the club."

The club statement highlighted the drop in matchday revenue prompted by the supporter boycott against Chansiri, with attendances dropping from an average of over 26,000 since last season to just over 17,000 currently.

Wigfield added: "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."

Paul Stanley, another of the three joint administrators, said there should be no interruption to Wednesday's fixture schedule as a result of entering administration.

"If more fans return to Hillsborough, the club can cover its day-to-day costs and move towards a viable sale to a new ownership capable of restoring long-term stability," Stanley said.

"With the right ownership structure, we are confident that the club has a bright future and will meet all EFL regulatory obligations."