Owls chiefs face the music

26 September 2010 14:30
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Howard Wilkinson and chief executive Nick Parker faced an angry protest from fans following Saturday`s 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Hillsborough. A small group of supporters gathered to express their concerns to the senior duo, who spoke for some time, after seeing the Owls fall to their fourth consecutive defeat thanks to a goal from Lee Barnard. Wednesday have endured a torrid few weeks off the pitch and were handed a winding-up order by HM Revenue and Customs which was only withdrawn when the Co-operative Bank paid their £703,000 debt on September 8. The Owls, who are over £20million in debt, have been actively seeking major new investment since the appointment of former chairman Lee Strafford in December 2008, but turned down an offer from American investors Club 9 Sports in May, which amounted to £2million for a 40% stake in the club. Wilkinson was appointed chairman, initially on an interim basis, when Strafford stood down in May and was a major force in the club's negotiations with the bank who are the club's main creditor. The Football League have imposed two transfer embargoes on Wednesday since the end of last season due to the club's failure to meet its tax bills.

Source: PA