Will there be another appeal? Questions answered after HUGE Sheffield Wednesday news

The news was confirmed by the club on Wednesday evening and provides a huge boost after a midweek win over Bournemouth saw them arrest a run of four consecutive defeats.

But what happens now, can the EFL appeal the appeal and what does it mean for the club’s accounts?

We enlisted the help of Dr Dan Plumley, a football finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, to comb through a handful of matters.

What are the reasons this decision has been made?

Confirmed ‘written reasons’ for the decision are yet to be published and will be released by the EFL ‘in due course’, with no set timescale. It is expected, however, that these will be released more speedily than the 17 days between the original charge in the summer.

One potential influence, according to Dr Plumley, is the ‘not guilty’ finding of Derby County in August for charges also relating to the sale of their stadium.

He said: “It [Derby’s case] was cited in the summer, that there were inconsistencies over similar cases. The Birmingham one was cited as well, though that was from a strictly financial standpoint in terms of a precedent.

“I would imagine that there will have been one eye on Derby with this.

“It could be down to the aggravating factors that we know are linked to the profit and sustainability regulations. We know the club were in full breach of the financial points that they’ve gone over.”

So, is that about it then?

Well, yes, as far as we understand and barring any unexpected developments.

The Star understands that any further action or appeal process from either side is ‘extremely unlikely’ and that after nearly a year since the charge was enacted by the EFL, the case can now reasonably be considered closed.

What does it mean for the accounts?

Wednesday delayed handing over their accounts for the 2018/19 season over to authorities until the appeal was handled, in order to best decide how the sale of Hillsborough be best accounted for.

It is expected that the accounts will be handed over in due course, there is no concern of sanction from the EFL for the delay.

Dr Plumley said: “From a financial point of view, we don’t know the full results in terms of the accounts yet, still.

“But from a business perspective there is a £7m hit if a club was to get relegated and this obviously gives them a huge boost in that regard. It might seem simple, but that’s the immediate financial implication.”

What have the club said?

A short statement posted on the club’s website said: “In August 2020 the Club filed an appeal to a League Arbitration Panel against the decision of the EFL Disciplinary Commission to impose a sanction on the Club of a deduction of 12 points in season 2020/21.

“The Club confirms that today its appeal was upheld in part. The decision of the League Arbitration Panel is that the sanction is reduced to a deduction of 6 points in season 2020/21.

“The Club is digesting the content of the decision and will not provide further comment until it is published.”

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

HUGE news for Sheffield Wednesday: Owls get massive boost with points deduction update from EFL

‘Come for the football, stay for the education' - Our latest podcast as Sheffield Wednesday's Dejphon Chansiri prepares to meet the media

REVEALED: The latest bright young attacker handed trial by Sheffield Wednesday

*

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor