Sheffield Wednesday's players are on the brink of taking drastic measures as the club's financial turmoil continues to escalate. The Championship side has faced a tumultuous off-season, with delayed wages for players and staff in May, June, and July adding to the growing list of issues.

Financial Struggles and Embargoes

Over the summer, the club has been hit with multiple registration embargoes, and manager Danny Rohl has left by mutual consent. The North Stand has been closed due to structural concerns, and owner Dejphon Chansiri is actively seeking to sell the club, though no significant progress has been made.

Cancelled Friendly Match

The team was scheduled to play a training match against Premier League side Burnley on Saturday, but the game was cancelled after the players refused to participate. In a statement, the players expressed their concerns about the lack of clarity and the practical impacts on their professional and personal lives.

Players' Statement

"As has been well publicised, players, coaching, and club staff groups at the club have all been impacted by delayed and overdue payment of salaries," the statement read. "This has been a worrying time for us as players but, whilst we are often the ones in the spotlight, we are not the only ones involved. We stand together in support with all our colleagues employed by the club who have been affected."

The players emphasized that the decision to withdraw from the Burnley match was not taken lightly and was made with the best interests of the club and its supporters in mind. They reassured fans that there has been no 'downing of tools' and that they remain committed to their training and preparation for the upcoming season.

Looking Ahead

"We want to reassure fans that there has not been, and will not be, any 'downing of tools' by any of us on the training ground, and we are all working as hard as we can and supporting each other, the manager, and staff," the statement continued. "However, we, like you, want our focus to be fully on what happens on the pitch and the new season ahead."

The players have made it clear to the club that they want the situation resolved as soon as possible to avoid future disruptions. The team is scheduled to start their league season with a trip to Leicester City on Sunday, and they are eager to put this challenging period behind them and focus on their performance on the pitch.