Dom Howson: Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri will come out fighting over EFL charge

A dark cloud is hanging over S6, with the English Football League having hit the Championship outfit with a misconduct charge over their controversial stadium sale last month.

Best case scenario is that the Owls get a slap on the wrist from the governing body and avoid a severe sanction (probably a little optimistic). The club are currently in a healthy position in the table, two points adrift of the play-off positions heading into the busy festive programme.

Worst case scenario is they get slapped with a hefty points deduction which would plunge them into a relegation battle.

Wednesday have denied the charge and vowed to "vigorously defend" the allegations.

No date has yet been set for the independent disciplinary commission to hear the charges

It is far from an ideal situation and supporters have every right to be concerned.

The club's off-the-field problems are threatening to overshadow their season.

It is a saga all of Wednesday's own making.

It should never have come down to needing to exploit a loophole in the rules and selling the stadium to Chansiri to circumnavigate Profitability and Sustainability regulations.

Their scattergun recruitment drive post the 2016 Championship Play-Off Final is a big factor in why they find themselves in such a precarious situation. Lavish amounts of money have been spent and wasted in the transfer market, increasing their wage bill and losses.

To make matters even worse, it has now emerged that Chansiri has also been charged by the EFL in relation to the £60m ground deal. Chansiri, finance director John Redgate and former chief executive Katrien Meire are also under the microscope.

Wednesday declined to comment when contacted by The Star.

If, however, Chansiri is found guilty, he could be banned from football.

But the charge against Chansiri and the Owls is unprecedented. Nobody knows for certain what will happen in the future or how long it could take to be resolved.

I understand Chansiri is expected to return to England later this month. Knowing Chansiri like I do, he will not take these charges lying down. This case is threatening to damage his and the club's reputation.