Sheffield Wednesday: 'EFL are now doing what they said they wouldn't do' after David Storch latest
Sheffield Wednesday should avoid being deducted a further 15 points next season if David Storch's takeover deal goes through.
That is according to former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider the EFL should “make an exception” for the Championship club.
Sheffield Wednesday will be playing in League One next season following their relegation, having been deducted 18 points for breaching the EFL’s regulations after going into administration.
Arise Capital Partners, which comprises Storch, his son Michael and Tom Costin, was granted preferred bidder status to seal a takeover at Hillsborough last month.
However, Storch has now confirmed the Owls will begin next season with a 15-point penalty in League One.
How Sheffield Wednesday are being punished for Dejphon Chanisiri's mistakes
In a statement on Wednesday (15 April), Storch said his group wants the EFL to recognise the “unique” nature of Sheffield Wednesday’s situation, adding that they “fundamentally disagree” with the decision.
The 15-point penalty will be enforced due to Arise’s offer not meeting the league’s requirement to repay creditors 25p in the pound, with former owner Dejphon Chansiri needing to be paid £15million of the £60m he loaned the Owls to avoid a points deduction.
| Date | Fixture |
| 18 April | Charlton (H) |
| 22 April | Middlesbrough (A) |
| 25 April | Oxford United (A) |
| 2 May | West Brom (H) |
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Wyness discussed the decision to hand the South Yorkshire club a further points deduction next season.
“The EFL will probably say that this is the way that they want to apply the rules consistently across all situations,” said Wyness.
“However, this is punishing the club and not punishing a bad owner in Chansiri. That is the attitude that they have got to take. They are now actually doing everything that the EFL and the new independent regulator said they don’t want to do.
“This is about supporting football clubs and rescuing football clubs, and now what they are doing is making that harder and harder.”
Why EFL clubs should be supporting Sheffield Wednesday
Wyness insisted Chansiri should not receive any help to recoup his funds following his failed ownership at Hillsborough.
“Although Chansiri did try hard at the start, he proved to be a bad owner in the end,” said Wyness.
“He should not be rewarded or given any help with his investment.
“I’m afraid that the EFL has got to look at the rulebook and find a way to make an exception in this case, and that should be welcomed by other clubs in the EFL.
“That is the way forward, to support clubs themselves and make sure the punishment is not on the club but is on the owner that creates the problem.”