Sheffield Wednesday to take further action after EFL reject Owls counter-claim

In another strongly-worded statement issued this evening, the club say they will ‘continue to take such steps as it considers necessary to protect and enforce its rights’, claiming the overhanging charge of misconduct stands to affect the performance of the team.

The initial EFL charge, taken against the club, chairman Dejphon Chansiri, finance director John Redgate and the Owls' former chief executive Katrien Meire, relate to the £60m sale of Hillsborough, undertaken to fall in line with Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) guidelines issued by the EFL in accordance with Financial Fair Play (FFP).

Wednesday could be slapped with a points deduction if found guilty.

Earlier this month the club fired back at misconduct charges brought against them by the EFL, claiming that they are ‘unlawful’.

They claimed the accounts in question had been previously ratified by the EFL.

Chansiri, Redgate and Meire are thought to have been notified of their charges on November 14, the same day the EFL announced its decision to charge Wednesday.

The club statement in full reads: “The Club has issued its claim against the EFL for acting unlawfully in relation to its alleged disciplinary charges.

“We have sought to engage with the EFL in order to agree a sensible procedure to resolve the dispute arising from the fact that the Club relied upon representations from the EFL in relation to the sale transaction which is the subject of the charges.

“The Club regrets that the EFL has so far refused to agree to the Club being permitted to make its claim, and refused to agree to a sensible procedure for dealing with the dispute.

“The Club will continue to take such steps as it considers necessary to protect and enforce its rights against the EFL and to protect it from unlawful action by the EFL affecting the Club and the performance of its team.

“The Club will not make any further comment at this stage.”

The EFL have been contacted for comment.