Wednesday charged with breaching FFP league rules
SHEFFIELD Wednesday have been charged with breaching EFL rules around financial fair play over the sale of Hillsborough.
The EFL opened an investigation into the Championship club’s profitability and sustainability (P&S) submission for 2017-18 earlier this year and has now issued “a number of charges” in relation to that investigation.
“The EFL has reviewed a large number of documents obtained from the club as part of this process and concluded there is sufficient evidence to justify issuing charges of misconduct,” a statement from the league read.
“The charges are in respect of a number of allegations regarding the process of how and when the stadium was sold and the inclusion of the profits in the 2017-18 accounts.”
The EFL said the charges would now be considered by an independent disciplinary commission, with sanctions possibly including a points penalty.
The club’s 2018-19 P&S submission remains under review, the league said.
Wednesday said in a statement: “Sheffield Wednesday note the statement issued by the EFL and the charges contained within.
“These charges will be vigorously defended and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”
■■ Premier League fans can expect to be provided with more detailed information during video assistant referee (VAR) checks from next month, it was announced last night.
■■ VAR has come in for heavy criticism from clubs and supporters alike over lengthy delays and a lack of clarity over precisely what is being looked at. ■■ Representatives of the 20 top-flight clubs gathered in central London for a shareholders’ meeting yesterday, with referees’ chief Mike Riley admitting to the delegates that improvements to VAR were required.
■■ While there was no change in policy over the use of pitchside monitors – which will continue to be used sparingly – from December supporters can expect to be given more information about what is being checked.
■■ “Going forward, and working within the IFAB (International Football Association Board) protocol, there will be increased information made available to attending fans and viewers watching around the world,” a Premier League statement said.
NEIL Warnock is reportedly keen on taking over at Scottish side Hearts.
The Yorkshireman brought a three-year stint at Cardiff City to an end on Monday evening, leaving the club by mutual consent, but could now make a swift return to the game.
However, Scotland’s Daily Record believes the Yorkshireman’s name has already been put forward for the vacant role at Tynecastle and that he is now waiting on their response.
Should he be successful, he could find himself working under former Manchester City and England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who is reportedly interested in taking on the role of sporting director at the club.
Warnock has previously indicated that a position in Scotland would interest him, adding he would be particularly keen on taking over one of the Edinburgh clubs in a bid to break the Old Firm’s dominance.
He told the Edinburgh Evening News back in September: “I’ve always fancied one of them – Hibs and Hearts.
“It appeals to me up there with them being neighbours.
“No disrespect to the big two but I’ve always been an underdog and I’ve always thought: ‘I wish I could get a club up there and get a team to rival Celtic and Rangers.’
“That’s how it used to be. Rangers haven’t been the force they were in recent years but I look back at what Aberdeen did all those years ago. It was unheard of, wasn’t it?
“It would be nice to get something like that going.
“You’d have to do it on team spirit and togetherness and all that because the money isn’t there for Hearts and Hibs to compete with the two Glasgow clubs, really.”
If reports in Scotland are to be believed, Warnock is now ready to make that ambition become a reality, although there is seemingly plenty of competition for the role.
Ex-Sunderland boss Jack Ross is believed to have been interviewed for the position, while Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson is also allegedly high on the club’s wanted list.
Former Dundee manager Neil McCann and ex-Stoke, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cotterill, as well as former Barnsley coach Daniel Stendel, have also all been linked with the job.