Sheffield Wednesday players could be hit hard in the pocket by relegation to League One

The Owls face the difficult prospect of clawing back the four-point gap currently held by Derby County in the two matches they have remaining, though they will get the opportunity to leapfrog the Rams should they be able to better their result this weekend.

The Owls’ South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United passed over control of their own fate in the relegation dogfight last night when they lost at Brentford. Though they still have a game in hand, it is now Derby who will stay up should they win their remaining games.

Incredibly, at least 19 Wednesday players who have made a first team appearance this season are yet to agree a contract extension into next season or look set to leave at the end of their loan deals.

But it is understood that some – if not all – of the players set to stay on at Hillsborough are facing a drop in wages should they be unable to beat the drop, with sources suggesting some salaries could decrease by over a third.

These clauses are designed to guard the club against losses incurred by a drop in divisional status, with some football finance experts putting the approximate figure for loss of TV rights at around £8m.

It is not known exactly which players have which clauses in their deals.

As reported by The Star last week, contract talks across the club appear to have been on hold for now while the club’s status – and therefore financial landscape – is in limbo.

Recent accounts show Wednesday have reduced their wage bill in recent seasons and though the club’s accounts for the 2019/20 season are still to be released, it is expected that there will be year-on-year progress in that endeavour thanks to the departures of several big names over recent seasons.

Wednesday take on Nottingham Forest in an early kick-off this weekend before making the trip to Pride Park for what could be a one-off shootout for survival on the last day of the season.

Derby take on Swansea on Saturday knowing a win would relegate Wednesday.

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