‘We’re getting close’ – Sheffield Wednesday at ‘critical point’ for more exits
Sheffield Wednesday are spiralling downwards and the club are facing the possibility of more players walking away from the club at the end of July.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who warned Football Insider that Josh Windass and Michael Smith’s exits from the club may only be the beginning of a mass exodus.
Wednesday are currently under a transfer embargo, owing to unpaid wages, an issue that has reared its head several times under Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership.
After failing to receive his wages for a third time in four months in June, Windass handed in his notice, then won an appeal to secure his exit from Sheffield Wednesday, before joining Wrexham.
The striker’s successful appeal has now opened the floodgates at Hillsborough, and FIFA regulations mean that his ex-teammates can hand in a 15-day notice period before leaving for nothing if they continue to go unpaid.
Joining Windass in heading for the exit is Danny Rohl, who has resigned as Sheffield Wednesday manager just under two weeks before their opening game of the season against Leicester City.
Sheffield Wednesday face exodus without new owner
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley, a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, explained why the end of July “will be a critical point”, as that is when news of the squad’s payment, or lack thereof, will emerge.
He said: “I think the longer the ownership situation rumbles on, the more likely it is that other players will leave.
“And there’s two parts to that. We’re getting close to payroll again, and the end of July will be a critical point because that’s when we’ll know whether or not the players have been paid for this month.
“You’ve got players that have handed in the notice that have been paid for now, but could still threaten to walk away if they’re not paid again.
“You’ve also got players on the contract where other clubs are going to look to cash in on that.
“We’ve seen a couple of players move for fees, albeit not huge ones. The transfer of Gassama to Rangers is an example.
“All the clubs are looking to cash in on Wednesday’s problem. And of course they would.
“We are in a situation where if that ownership challenge rumbles on, then there’s a higher degree of likelihood that more players will leave before the window’s over.”
Barry Bannan absent amid Sheffield Wednesday chaos
The Owls are still reeling from the exit of their top scorer and manager, and with the threat of more players leaving, the club are in crisis.
Captain Barry Bannan’s contract expired this summer, and despite his desires to stay with the Yorkshire side, no new deal has been forthcoming.
Through thick and thin, the ex-Aston Villa man has been a constant for Wednesday over the last decade, and his departure would be a devastating blow for the club.