OWLS TO FIGHT EFL OVER THE SALE OF STADIUM
SHEFFIELD Wednesday have informed the EFL that charges brought against the club concerning the sale of Hillsborough are “unlawful”.
The Championship club, owned by Dejphon Chansiri, deny all charges put forward by the EFL after it opened an investigation into the Owls’ profitability and sustainability submission for 2017-18.
The EFL had said previously the charges would be considered by an independent disciplinary commission with sanctions possibly including a points deduction.
A Wednesday statement read: “The club has informed the EFL that the charges are themselves unlawful and, without prejudice to that fact, are all denied by the club and the other respondents.
“The club has reserved all of its rights against the EFL and will take all such actions as are necessary to protect its rights and integrity, and those of its current and former officers, including in relation to inaccurate reporting.
“The club has also notified the EFL that it stands ready to bring a claim against the EFL to obtain compensation.
“The club maintains that it consulted with the EFL officers in connection with the transaction.
“The club has in its possession emails, letters and documents in which the EFL gave authorisation to the transaction.
“That authorisation gave rise in law to a legitimate expectation that the transaction would be accepted by the EFL, which is binding on the EFL.
“The EFL is acting in breach of that binding legitimate expectation by retrospectively treating as misconduct that which it had itself previously authorised, and this makes the charges themselves unlawful.
“The club is accordingly bringing its own claim against the EFL to establish that it is acting unlawfully, as well as standing ready, if necessary, to vigorously defend the charges.”