Sheffield Wednesday call off friendly with Burnley as concerns grow that turmoiled club may NOT be in a position to start the season next week
Mail Sport understands players from the financially-stricken Owls have now called off this weekend's behind-closed-doors friendly with Burnley - and that there is a view among insiders at Hillsborough that their opening fixture with Leicester City, scheduled for next Sunday may have to be called off.
Today's latest payroll issue means that what remains of the Championship side's squad have now not been paid on time for the last four months out of five.
They had been due to take on the Clarets, with the Lancashire side offering to pay for their hotel accommodation.
However, the latest wage delay has prompted Wednesday's players to withdraw from the fixture.
Sources have disclosed that unless there is a marked improvement in what is a desperate situation, there is a view that the season-opener at the King Power Stadium will have to be postponed.
Earlier this week, manager Danny Rohl left Wednesday, which controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri claims he is trying to sell.
A number of players have had their contracts cancelled by mutual consent amid a summer of discontent and financial strife, while many of those who are out of contract cannot be tied down to new deals.
In a further blow for the historic Yorkshire club and its army of followers, Sheffield Council this week deemed the North Stand, which seats 9,000, unsafe and, as it stands the club would not be permitted to use it for home matches.
The Star, the city's newspaper, has reported that some of the players were considering paying for their own hotel rooms for the trip to Leicester and driving down the M1 themselves after being told the club may not be in a position to pay for accommodation.
Indeed, with the situation worsening by the hour, there are now genuine concerns that Wednesday will not be able to fulfil the fixture – a development that could increase the likelihood of a points deduction.
The EFL declined to comment but league officials are known to be 'extremely concerned at the developing situation'.
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