MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Historic English soccer club Sheffield Wednesday's future was thrown into doubt Friday after it was taken over by administrators amid financial troubles.
The English Football League confirmed that the club, which was founded in 1867, would be hit with a 12-point deduction as punishment.
Joint administrator Kris Wigfield said a new owner was being sought as quickly as possible.
The four-time English champion was an original member of the Premier League. It now plays in the second-tier Championship and is currently bottom of the 24-team league on minus 6 points after the deduction.
The latest move comes after a period of financial difficulty under the ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, which prompted protests from fans and sanctions from the league.
“For the fans, staff and players of Sheffield Wednesday this is an extremely worrying situation," said U.K. culture secretary Lisa Nandy. “Owners should be good custodians who act with their club’s best interests in mind and clearly, in this instance, that has not been the case.”
Wednesday was already subject to blocks on transfer fees for three windows. The club and Chansiri separately faced league charges over non-payment of player wages.
The league said Friday that the latest developments were an “opportunity to move matters toward a successful sale and secure future under new ownership.”
Fans reacted to the news with a mix of sadness and optimism.
“Today marks one of the most bittersweet days in our club’s proud 158-year history,” Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust said in a statement. “Entering administration was the inevitable outcome of years of financial mismanagement, a lack of accountability, and repeated failures to engage credible buyers.
“Administration is not something to be celebrated. It needn’t have ended this way. But we are overjoyed to have Dejphon Chansiri out of our club for good.”
In a statement, the club said administrators had been appointed after “significant efforts to agree a sale to a credible future custodian” could not be completed. It said it had faced “rising pressure from creditors.”
League rules mean teams that fall into administration are automatically deducted 12 points. Wednesday is now likely to be relegated to the third tier of English soccer, having regularly been a top-flight club in the past with star players like Chris Waddle and Paolo Di Canio.
The three-time winner of the FA Cup was last in the Premier League in 2000 and has since spent time in the third tier as recently as 2023.
Wednesday said average attendances this season had fallen from 26,000 to 17,000 amid fan unrest. Further financial hits have come from the boycotting of the club’s concessions and retail outlets.
“Now, more than ever, we need fans back in the ground — buying tickets, merchandise, pies and pints,” Wigfield said. “Every penny spent will go directly to supporting the day-to-day running of this club, not to the former owner or professional costs."
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
A general view of Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, after it was announced they were going into administration, in Sheffield, England, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
A general view of Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, after it was announced they were going into administration, in Sheffield, England, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Coach Steve Kerr spoke with Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the morning shootaround Thursday about the player's situation being out of the rotation for more than a month now with expectations he will be traded before the deadline next month.
“We talked this morning and that’s all private,” Kerr said. “I will keep coaching him, he’ll be part of the team, he’ll be here. It is what it is.”
Kerr discounted any issues between them as being reason Kuminga has reportedly requested a trade from the team after not being used in the last 14 games since Dec. 18 and 17 of 18 — though he has been listed as injured for nine games this season.
“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said before Golden State's 126-113 win over the New York Knicks. “There's not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It is what it is, difficult situation for everybody and part of this league, part of the job. We just keep moving forward.”
Kuminga has been training much of the time on his own, shooting on the Warriors’ practice floor out of the eyes of fans at Chase Center. He wears a black hood over his head on the end of the bench during games. Perhaps Kuminga and the Warriors weren't a great fit from Day 1 — not that it's his fault — and he might be eager to leave and start fresh elsewhere. If so, the Golden State brass might want to make sure he doesn't get hurt before trying to trade him.
Yet nobody has taken issue with his work ethic, at least not publicly. Kuminga, selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, has been known to stay long after games shooting on the arena's main floor.
“It’s not a distraction at all. It’s a very unique situation but our job is just to keep playing, keep winning, it’ll resolve itself one way or the other,” Stephen Curry said.
The 23-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has appeared in just 18 games total with 13 starts, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
On Sept. 30, he agreed to a two-year contract that could be worth up to $46.5 million if the team were to exercise its option for 2026-27. Kuminga had had a $7.9 million qualifying offer in hand since June 29 but was also weighing other options and he missed media day.
He has long had the support and confidence of teammates — like Jimmy Butler saying he has been having Kuminga over and continuing to encourage him.
“We love JK in this locker room, that's not going to change,” Butler said postgame. “If he happens to not be in here, we'll still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here, I wish him the best wherever. It doesn't change. We don't listen to the noise, I hope he don't listen to the noise he keep coming here with a smile doing what he's supposed to do and being the ultimate pro.”
Kuminga missed much of last season with a right ankle injury. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes over 47 games with 10 starts. He also scored 15.3 points per game over eight playoff games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and making 40% of his 3-point attempts. That included a career-best 30-point performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kerr said the uncertainty around Kuminga's future “won't be a distraction.”
“Jonathan's a great young guy, his teammates like him,” Kerr said. "He's handling himself well.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, middle, sits near the team bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (1) and Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) swap jerseys after the Warriors defeat the Jazz during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
