Sheffield Wednesday's Championship rival facing possible points deduction in relegation scrap
Sheffield Wednesday’s Championship counterparts West Bromwich Albion have reportedly been charged with an alleged breach of financial rules, potentially throwing a grenade into the relegation scrap.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Baggies, who will face Wednesday at Hillsborough on the final day of the season, have allegedly breached English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules for last season and are facing the threat of a points deduction before the end of this season.
The Baggies, who drew 0-0 with promotion hopefuls Millwall at The Hawthorns on Friday night, are currently just two points above the relegation zone with four games of the season remaining.
Currently under the caretaker stewardship of James Morrison, who was given the job until the end of the season after Eric Ramsay was sacked towards the end of February, the Baggies have shown signs of progress, stringing together a seven-game unbeaten run.
However, that unbeaten run has featured just two victories, meaning they are by no means safe ahead of the Championship campaign drawing to a close in just under three weeks time.
According to English Football League guidelines, any sporting sanction from the previous season must be applied in the following campaign, which would represent a massive blown to the Baggies’ hopes of preserving their Championship status.
With so little time left between now and the end of the campaign, the Baggies are said to be attempting to delay any punishment until next season.
Leicester City, who are currently four points from safety, like Wednesday, have also had points deducted this season, having six shaved off their tally in February for breaching financial rules. They failed in an appeal last week.
The exact amount of the Baggies’ breach is reportedly ‘not thought to be significant and only a minor number above loss limits’, but a points deduction, transfer ban or fine are all possible punishments they could be handed.
Football League clubs have to submit their annual accounts for the previous financial year by December 31. In March, West Brom reported an operating loss of £17million. Their overall losses since July 2022 are £55.6m, which exceeds the permitted amount of a maximum £39m over the three-year reporting period.