Wigan’s hopes of survival hit by points deduction
Wigan Athletic have been left eight points adrift of safety in the Championship after the EFL confirmed that they had been docked three points for failing to pay player wages on time.
And the club could be facing further sanctions in the future after being hit with fresh charges as a result of the day.
Wigan had agreed a suspended three-point penalty withtheEFLearlierthisseason afterfailingtopaytheirplayers on time on three separate occasions. That penalty has now been enforced after the failure to play payer wagers ahead of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Watford. The EFL have issued thefreshchargesforfurtherallegedinfringementssurrounding the agreed decision from earlier this season.
Wigan were already bottom of the Championship table ahead of the decision and now face a major battle to retain their second-tier status following promotion from League One last season.
"Wigan Athletic has, with immediate effect, been deducted three points from the 2022/23 Championship table after the Club failed to pay player salaries again in March 2023," the EFL statement said.
"The Club had previously been charged and sanctioned for failing to adhere to the terms of the Standard Contracts that were in force between the Club and its Players inthemonthsofJune2022,July 2022 and October 2022.
"Thislatestinfringementby theClubtomeetitsobligations means the terms of the Agreed Decision the Club entered into with the EFL in January 2023 has been breached and the application of the suspended sportingsanctionhasbeenautomatically triggered.
"In a further breach of the Agreed Decision, the Club’s owner has failed to deposit an amount equal to 125% of its forecast monthly wage bill in a Club account. This had been a key term of the Agreed Decision to help prevent the Club breaching EFL Regulations again, should there be future delays in the processing of overseaspayments.Separately, new charges have now been issued to the Club following this latestinstanceofnon-payment of player wages and for not complying with the Agreed Decision. The Club’s owner will also be charged with misconduct, with the matter to be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission."