Sheffield Wednesday players release statement amid club's financial turmoil
Players and staff at the Championship club have had to deal with late wage payments for three months in a row as a consequence of the club's financial issues, with the players deciding to withdraw from a planned friendly against Burnley last week.
Wednesday have previously been placed under transfer embargo for payments owed to HMRC, while the EFL imposed ' a three-window fee restriction after exceeding 30 days of late payments between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025'.
And the statement from the members of the squad highlighted how 'players and staff are now feeling real, practical impacts in their professional and personal lives', adding that they want to make sure that 'decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future'.
'As has been well publicised, players, coaching and club staff groups at the club have all been impacted by delayed and overdue payment of salaries,' began the statement.
'This has been a worrying time for us as players but, whist we are often the ones in the spotlight, we are not the only ones involved. We stand together in support with all our colleagues employed by the club who have been affected.
'The decision taken by the players to withdraw from the planned friendly with Burnley was not taken lightly or without consideration. We are fully aware of the added concern this will have caused supporters but trust there is a real understanding of the difficult position we have been put in,' it added.
Naturally, the decision to not play the match against Burnley has led to concerns as to what action the players could take as the league season gets underway, with the Owls set to face Leicester City in their first match of the new Championship season.
But the players explained that they 'want to reassure fans that there has not been, and will not be, any 'downing of tools' by any of us on the training ground, and we are all working as hard as we can'.
'However, we, like you, want our focus to be fully on what happens on the pitch and the new season ahead. This is proving to be really challenging and we have made it clear to the club that we want this situation to be addressed as soon as possible so decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future. We can then all move forward together as a club,' it added.
The Owls's pre-season preparations have been thrown into chaos with the transfer embargo, the departure of Danny Rohl and the closure of the North Stand at Hillsborough, and there are doubts over whether they will be able to fulfil their first game of the season.
That match comes against Leicester on Sunday, 10 August, with fans planning a protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri, who is under mounting pressure to sell the club.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tuesday's briefing: Alexander Isak back in Toon as Liverpool parade new signings
Wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is back on Tyneside while the club linked with him, Liverpool, have been parading the signings they have made this summer at Anfield. Also in the north east, Regis Le Bris has been handed a new contract at Sunderland. Isak returns to Newcastle Alexander Isak is facing showdown talks with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe after returning to Tyneside. The 25-year-old Sweden international headed back to Tyneside over the weekend after spending time working on his fitness at former club Real Sociedad. Isak missed the Magpies' pre-season tour of Asia having cited a thigh injury amid fevered speculation over his future. Newcastle swiftly rejected a £110million bid for the player from Liverpool last week. 'You have to earn the right to train with us,' said Howe before the team flew home from Seoul. 'No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.' New stars on show at Anfield Established stars Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo scored the goals as Liverpool showcased £270million-worth of new signings in a 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday. Record recruit Florian Wirtz hit the bar in an eye-catching display while fellow new faces Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike also featured for the Premier League champions. Ekitike set up the opener for Salah, who also missed a penalty, and Gakpo struck twice. It was the second of two games against the Basque outfit, with a largely second-string Reds side earlier winning 4-1. Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, two players linked with moves, were on target along with teenagers Rio Ngumoha and Ben Doak. Tributes were paid to forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last month, in both games. New deal for Black Cats boss Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has signed a new three-year contract. The 49-year-old Frenchman was appointed in June 2024 and guided the Black Cats back to the Premier League after an eight-year absence in his first season. Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: 'I'm delighted we are announcing this contract extension for Regis. 'It provides clarity going into the Premier League season, but more importantly it recognises his contribution and continued commitment to the club.' Martin defends Gers criticism Russell Martin claims his criticism of some of the Rangers squad following their deflating 1-1 draw with Motherwell on Saturday came from a position of 'love and care'. The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss. Hearts investor targets title Brighton owner Tony Bloom has set his sights on winning the SPL with Hearts after investing in the Edinburgh club. The English entrepreneur completed a £9.86million deal in June to secure a 29 per cent stake in the Jambos in non-voting shares. Bloom said: 'If we have not won the league title in the next 10 years, I will be very disappointed.' What's on today? Rangers are in action again as they host Czech side Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of a Champions League third qualifying round tie.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Teeth whitening solution so 'effective' shoppers of all ages love it is 30% off
MySweetSmile, one of the UK's top teeth whitening brands - are offering deals and discounts on their products for a limited time only Keeping your oral health in check is pretty crucial for maintaining a sparkling smile with healthy gums and fresh breath. However, like anything else, looking for top quality dental products can quickly become costly and with a plethora of options available, consumers can find it challenging to determine which products are truly worth their cost. MySweetSmile is one of the few brands that comes highly recommended - bagging awards and touted as the UK's top teeth whitening brand. Now, they're marking five years of business by offering a host of deals to say thanks to their customers - both new and existing. To kick things off, they're offering 30% off all products, including a complimentary mystery flavour toothpaste - either mint, strawberry or mango for customers. Alongside the toothpaste, shoppers can also take note of the brand's buy two get one free deal on all products and free two-day delivery on orders over £20 for UK-based shoppers. Lisa Snowdon loves this hair serum that's 'must have for hair loss' and hails 'crazy' results 'I lost 4 stone in a year but still eat takeaways by changing just two things' No codes are required as all offers are automatically applied at checkout and the offers are available site-wide from July 31 to August 7th. Customers can select from options such as the Teeth Whitening Powder, now priced at £20.99, down from £29.99. This product is touted as being clinically proven and dentist-approved, capable of lifting deep-set stains and preventing new ones from forming without resorting to harsh peroxides, causing sensitivity or damaging enamel. To celebrate their fifth year, MySweetSmile have a range of deals £29.99 £20.99 MySweetSmile Buy here Product Description The Teeth Whitening Strips are also available for £20.99, reduced from £29.99, offering easy-to-use, non-slip strips that deliver quick results without harming enamel, reports the Manchester Evening News. The Precision Teeth Whitening Pen has also been reduced by the brand's 30% discount. Its fine brush tip allows customers to apply the formula precisely where needed. Plus, it doesn't use any peroxide, meaning there should be no sensitivity caused to teeth. For customers with damaged or sensitive enamel, the Enamel Care Serum could be an ideal choice. It targets the root cause of sensitivity by repairing and strengthening the enamel. For optimal results, customers simply follow their regular night-time brushing routine before applying the serum, dispense two to three pumps onto their toothbrush, brush for two minutes and spit out any excess. Sensitive gums are a widespread concern, but now there's a solution with the Gum Serum from MySweetSmile, infused with hyaluronic acid for hydration, soothing inflammation and fortifying gum tissue. It's recommended to use after your usual toothbrushing routine, by applying two pumps onto the tongue and then spreading it across the gums before allowing it to work its magic for two minutes. Not all products suit everyone, and if this isn't the right fit, there are other options available. Take the Rapid White - Blue Light Tooth Whitening System, retailing at £23.33 from Boots, which promises to lighten teeth up to five shades in just two weeks and is designed with sensitive teeth in mind, being peroxide-free. Alternatively, the Spotlight Whitening Teeth Whitening Pen, priced at £14.95 from Lookfantastic, offers an easy-to-use pen that provides professional-level whitening at home and helps reduce stains for a more radiant smile. Feedback on the MySweetSmile website has been overwhelmingly positive, with one satisfied customer, Margaret, aged 63, exclaiming about the Teeth Whitening Powder: "I always thought my yellow teeth were just part of ageing, but after just a few uses of MySweetSmile, I can't stop smiling at the mirror. My teeth feel so much cleaner and brighter-it's like I've turned back the clock on my smile!". Another user called Emily, aged 39, revealed: "I was sceptical at first, but this really works. My teeth looked dull and yellow no matter how much I brushed, but now they're sparkling clean and bright. The compliments haven't stopped, and I feel so much more confident!". Tom, 34, commented on the Teeth Whitening Strips: "I'm always running around with work and barely have time for self-care. These strips fit perfectly into my busy routine, and the results are incredible! My teeth are whiter, and I feel so much more confident." However, on Amazon, some customers held different opinions, with one buyer noting: "I have only just started using this, so I have not seen much difference yet but the powder leaves your mouth smelling fresh." A separate reviewer mentioned: "I bought this as it was recommended online. I'm not a smoker and I haven't been drinking much, I do drink coffee regularly but I equally regularly clean my teeth. There's an initial improvement but I'm not sure it's what I expected. I used it every day in the first week and only noticed the difference post brushing. Shortly after that - little difference."
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Thomas Partey: Ex-Arsenal player charged with rape to appear in court today
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is due to appear in court today, charged with raping two women. The 32-year-old, who was charged four days after leaving the north London club when his contract expired back in June, faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He is accused of two counts of rape against one woman and three counts against another. The sexual assault allegation relates to a third woman, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022. The Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire has previously said the Ghanaian "denies all the charges against him" - and looks forward to the chance to "finally clear his name". Partey joined Arsenal from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2020 and became a regular for manager Mikel Arteta, who last month said he was "100% sure" the club followed the correct protocols. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: "The player's contract ended on 30 June. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case." Partey made 35 appearances for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals.
