Sheffield Wednesday one of four top clubs to take coronavirus accounts 'extension'

The original deadline to hand over the accounts was the end of April – five days ago – but as The Star reported early last month, chancellor Rishi Sunak had offered companies an extension to that deadline due to complications caused by the coronavirus.

Of the 44 clubs in the Premier League and Championship only Wednesday, Derby County, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are yet to file their accounts.

The late publication of Wednesday’s accounts last season landed them in hot water when the EFL placed the club under a transfer embargo. The accounts were eventually handed over in July almost three months after the late April deadline.

Issues followed, of course, and EFL charges brought against the club for some of the content of the accounts – specifically the circumstances around the sale of Hillsborough stadium – remain.

Savings are expected to have been made on wages despite the loan signings of Premier League players Connor Wickham and Jacob Murphy.

According to calculations made by football finance guru Kieran Maguire, co-host of the Price of Football podcast, Wednesday’s last available accounts suggest an average weekly player wage of £19,709 in 2017/18, the seventh-highest figure in the division and higher than the average of £16,553.