Controversial ex-EFL chairman who took club to brink of collapse eyes Championship team bid
Former Wigan Athletic chairman Talal Al Hammad is reportedly keen on investing in Sheffield Wednesday. Al Hammad was part of a consortium led by Bahraini businessman Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi that bought Wigan in 2021. Al Hammad is reported to be interested in investing in Sheffield WednesdayGetty The Latics had gone into administration the year before but saw their finances crumble again under the new ownership. Wigan were deducted three points by the EFL in 2023 after a fourth occasion of failing to pay their players on time. The sanction was increased to six points and the club were relegated from the Championship by finishing bottom of the table. They were then given two four-point deductions for failing to pay player wages again and then missing an EFL funding deadline. It meant they had to start the 2023/24 League One season on minus eight points, with a winding-up petition being issued in June 2023. Wigan were then sold to local businessman Mike Danson, with the club’s players, staff and other creditors being paid immediately. Despite overseeing financial losses at the Latics, The Sun report that Al Hammad is looking to take his business to Sheffield Wednesday. He is said to be looking to cooperate with Owls fans amid their long-term frustrations with current owner Dejphon Chansiri. Wednesday were bought by a Chansiri-led consortium in 2015 and the Thai businessman eyed Premier League football within two years. However, they have only played in the Championship and League One since, and were punished for breaking spending rules in 2020. Wigan won League One with Al Hammad but then faced financial problemsGetty They were hit with points deductions and saw a winding-up petition lodgedGetty Wednesday fans have been increasingly frustrated with owner ChansiriGetty Wednesday included the sale of their Hillsborough Stadium in their 2017/18 accounts even though it was sold the following year. A 12-point deduction was imposed, although then reduced to six. Later in 2020, it was revealed that players had not been paid fully for the second time that year, and this continued into January 2021. It was reported that salaries were capped at £7,000-a-month and after relegation to League One, players still didn’t have full payments. Wednesday were then placed under a registration embargo by the EFL in October 2023 after failing to pay a bill to HM Revenue and Customs. Chansiri asked for £2million worth of donations from fans to help but announced that the outstanding debt had been paid soon after. There have been calls for Chansiri to sell but this currently doesn’t look likelyGetty Another registration embargo was introduced in November after the club failed to pay HMRC once again, but the bill was eventually paid. Wednesday are currently 11th in the Championship but just three points outside of the play-off spots.
Former Wigan Athletic chairman Talal Al Hammad is reportedly keen on investing in Sheffield Wednesday.
Al Hammad was part of a consortium led by Bahraini businessman Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi that bought Wigan in 2021.
The Latics had gone into administration the year before but saw their finances crumble again under the new ownership.
Wigan were deducted three points by the EFL in 2023 after a fourth occasion of failing to pay their players on time.
The sanction was increased to six points and the club were relegated from the Championship by finishing bottom of the table.
They were then given two four-point deductions for failing to pay player wages again and then missing an EFL funding deadline.
It meant they had to start the 2023/24 League One season on minus eight points, with a winding-up petition being issued in June 2023.
Wigan were then sold to local businessman Mike Danson, with the club’s players, staff and other creditors being paid immediately.
Despite overseeing financial losses at the Latics, The Sun report that Al Hammad is looking to take his business to Sheffield Wednesday.
He is said to be looking to cooperate with Owls fans amid their long-term frustrations with current owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Wednesday were bought by a Chansiri-led consortium in 2015 and the Thai businessman eyed Premier League football within two years.
However, they have only played in the Championship and League One since, and were punished for breaking spending rules in 2020.
Wednesday included the sale of their Hillsborough Stadium in their 2017/18 accounts even though it was sold the following year.
A 12-point deduction was imposed, although then reduced to six.
Later in 2020, it was revealed that players had not been paid fully for the second time that year, and this continued into January 2021.
It was reported that salaries were capped at £7,000-a-month and after relegation to League One, players still didn’t have full payments.
Wednesday were then placed under a registration embargo by the EFL in October 2023 after failing to pay a bill to HM Revenue and Customs.
Chansiri asked for £2million worth of donations from fans to help but announced that the outstanding debt had been paid soon after.
Another registration embargo was introduced in November after the club failed to pay HMRC once again, but the bill was eventually paid.
Wednesday are currently 11th in the Championship but just three points outside of the play-off spots.
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