Exclusive: Sky pundit believes new update could force Dejphon Chansiri to sell Sheffield Wednesday | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has spoken to FLW about the recent financial updates at Sheffield Wednesday

EFL pundit Lee Hendrie believes that the imminent winding-up petition served to Sheffield Wednesday could be a positive, but only if it leads to Dejphon Chansiri selling the club.

In the latest update regarding what has truly been a nightmareish period at Hillsborough, which has seen five late wage payments in seven months, players walking away from their contracts, and five separate embargoes, the Owls are now set to be served with a winding-up petition over money owed to HMRC.

HMRC is owed £1 million by Dejphon Chansiri, and is set to put forward a formal court application, which forces an insolvent company into compulsory liquidation.

Whilst no one wants to see Sheffield Wednesday threatened with liquidation, it may force Chansiri's hand into selling if he can't cough up the money he owes soon.

In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Lee Hendrie commented on this development and believes that the stressful period may be over soon.

Despite what may come from this winding-up petition in terms of administration, or perhaps even worse, Hendrie sees the potential that this decision by the HMRC may have in forcing Dejphon Chansiri to sell Sheffield Wednesday.

"You think of the situation at Sheffield Wednesday, and with this occurring, it might put pressure on Chansiri to make the big call to sell," Hendrie said.

"This could be a big thing for the football club, the fans and the players who are there, because he's wiped his feet for some time about selling."

Despite Chansiri's reiterations that he is willing to sell, no one has yet matched his £100 million valuation for a club stripped of assets and on its knees, and it's hard to imagine anyone would want to purchase for that price, either.

But the winding-up petition could force him to do just that, if he isn't able to muster the funds to clear his debts with the HMRC.

"The petition could really push and steer Chansiri to make the big call that he has to make eventually," Hendrie continued.

"It's been ongoing and frustrating for everyone involved, so I think this might be a good thing for a sale, going forward."

Sheffield Wednesday will hope for the best-case scenario from the winding-up petition

The best-case scenario for Sheffield Wednesday in this situation will be for a sale, but many Wednesdayites probably won't be holding their breath, as Dejphon Chansiri has weathered a lot of pressure to sell, yet still has his iron grip over the club.

There have been several planned protests from fans, including boycotts in their home EFL Cup ties against Leeds United and Grimsby Town, but the owner hasn't budged from his position.

Rob Staton reported that Wednesday could fall into administration, although not guaranteed, and the threat of liquidation may be there too, but you'd feel that, given the support from the wider footballing world, everything will be done to ensure that doesn't happen.

With Wednesday all but certain to receive some form of points deduction this season, the points deducted for going into administration likely won't affect their standing in the Championship, but making sure a new owner comes in would be imperative at that point.

So, no matter the outcome, it's looking like more frustration and pain for Sheffield Wednesday fans. But at least here, it looks like there may be light at the end of the tunnel, whereas before, things seemed destined to be slammed shut forever.