Sheffield Wednesday’s unsettled squad are being told that a club takeover is imminent in a bid to prevent an exodus of frustrated players, with the Owls also facing a points deduction.
Several members of the first team remain unhappy with the club’s ongoing turmoil and, under the current circumstances, hold the option to terminate their contracts.
Some are already believed to be in talks with other teams about potential moves as the crisis behind the scenes worsens.
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In an attempt to steady the dressing room, senior figures at the club, including recently appointed head coach Henrik Pedersen, have been reassuring players that new ownership is on the horizon.
Sheffield Wednesday’s unsettled squad are being told that a club takeover is imminent in a bid to prevent an exodus of frustrated players, with the Owls also facing a points deduction
|GETTY
Alongside promises of fresh investment, these assurances include offers of improved contracts once a deal is completed, according to The Sun.
Behind the scenes, American businessman John Textor has been mentioned as a possible buyer. However, his interest is reportedly in its very early stages, with no binding agreement yet in place.
Insiders have suggested to the newspaper that current owner Dejphon Chansiri has been in talks with at least two interested parties, but no concrete deal has been reached.
The timing of this optimistic narrative is no coincidence.
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Captain Barry Bannan and the rest of the squad are being briefed ahead of the Owls’ Championship opener away at Leicester City.
The fixture, set for Sunday afternoon, will be broadcast live - a moment when the club’s off-field instability could be amplified under the national spotlight.
Complicating matters further is the looming threat of punishment from the EFL.
The league has confirmed that Wednesday will face a points deduction for repeatedly failing to pay players on time. This is the fourth such incident, and disciplinary officials are reportedly considering a significant penalty.
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Sheffield Wednesday chief Dejphon Chansiri is looking for a buyer for the club
|PA
A formal hearing is already under way, though the verdict has not yet been delivered.
Some insiders believe the decision’s delay is partly to avoid the optics of a heavily reduced points tally being revealed on the eve of the high-profile opener against Leicester, who themselves are facing potential sanctions.
Financial pressures at the club are no secret. The EFL has privately indicated that player sales may be necessary to help stabilise Wednesday’s accounts.
Despite this, the club’s valuation of its assets remains high.
One example is promising goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
The 20-year-old Northern Ireland youth international is attracting interest from Rangers, Leicester, and Southampton, among others.
Yet Wednesday reportedly want around £8million to let the player go, making any transfer deal problematic.
For now, much rests on whether Chansiri can secure a buyer before the unrest among players boils over.
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Sheffield Wednesday star Barry Bannan is being briefed on developments behind the scenes ahead of today's Championship clash with Leicester
|PA
While Pedersen focuses on preparing his squad for their trip to the King Power Stadium, the uncertainty over wages, ownership, and potential penalties threatens to overshadow the start of their Championship campaign.
The coming weeks will be pivotal. Not just for Sheffield Wednesday’s season, but for the club’s immediate survival in its current form.