Sheffield Wednesday relegated: Henrik Pedersen's Owls drop into League One after 2-1 defeat to rivals Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday's three-season spell in the Championship has come to an end; Henrik Pedersen's side were handed two separate points deductions, totalling 18 points, before Christmas; Sheffield United inflicted the final blow with 2-1 win over Owls on Sunday
Monday 23 February 2026 13:50, UK
Sheffield Wednesday have been relegated from the Championship in record time with 13 games still to play.
The Owls' drop into League One was finally confirmed with a 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals Sheffield United that included a red card for each side on Sunday.
"Bramall Pain" were the words former Wednesday defender Andy Hinchcliffe used at full-time on co-commentary. Apt to say the least.
The club were deducted 12 points on October 24 after filing for administration, while a failure to meet payment obligations resulted in a further six-point deduction on December 1.
They are still on the lookout for a new owner, after Dejphon Chansiri finally departed in October following a decade in charge. The club have been controlled by the administrators ever since.
Sky Sports News understands their relegation to League One will not impact a takeover at Hillsborough.
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"Of course I'm disappointed," Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen told Sky Sports after their defeat at Bramall Lane.
"We gave everything, but to put ourselves in that position so early in the game made it a huge mountain to climb away at Sheffield United.
"It's very sad that it's happened here, and it's sad in the bigger picture that a club like Sheffield Wednesday is relegated in February.
"But the fans were amazing again. We could hear them singing and supporting us. That's why the dressing room is so disappointed. We wanted to give them something."
No team in history have ever finished the season on minus points in the top four divisions of English football - and now Wednesday have 13 games to ensure they do not become the first.
"There are different levels to focus on. One is getting back into positive points," Pedersen added. Wednesday currently sit on a total of minus seven points.
"From a football and culture side, we cannot lower our standards. We have to keep working hard every day, that's how we want to work at Sheffield Wednesday. Relegated or not, we want to give the fans as many good performances as possible, get into positive points, and continue developing players. There's still a lot to do.
"We're all looking forward to the next step so everyone can have clarity and hope about the future of the club. Of course, we're looking forward to what comes next [with the potential takeover]."
Sympathy from Wilder: Wednesday are 'under-cooked'
Perhaps the biggest sign that Sheffield Wednesday's season has been a disaster came when they received sympathy from Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, someone who has never been short of opportunity to revel in a derby win.
"Everyone in football realises Sheffield Wednesday were relegated at the start of the season," he told Sky Sports after the game.
"I feel for Henrik, I know how much losing one game hurts me.
"I feel for the players as well. They go out and give it a right go but the team is so under-cooked for the Championship, it's frightening."
Wednesday's season from hell ends in appropriate nightmare fashion
Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:
A nightmare season ended in nightmare fashion for Sheffield Wednesday. It couldn't have been scripted any better or worse - depending on what side of the Steel City you reside on.
The worst campaign in English football history, just one win all season, points deductions and still uncertainty over the future of your club, and then you get relegated at the home of your rivals - the first team ever to have their fate sealed in February.
Credit to the Wednesday players; after conceding twice inside 20 minutes it could have been a rout. But amidst all the defeats this season they have rarely truly folded. Kalvin Phillips' red card provided hope, while Charlie McNeill pulled one back.
There was hustle and bustle but they never really looked like getting another, let alone the two they needed to avoid the big R appearing next to their name on the Championship table.
Now onto the next fight for the club: securing their future, and then somehow recovering from all this to rebuild and go again in League One next season.
To move forward, the clubs needs clarity.
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Windass: Pedersen deserves chance to rebuild
Josh Windass spent more than five years at Sheffield Wednesday during the Chansiri era, leaving in the summer for Wrexham.
He believes Pedersen, who was Danny Rohl's assistant during his final two seasons at Hillsborough, deserves the opportunity to take the club forward.
"During my time there, there were months when wages weren't paid on time," Windass told Sky Sports. "But then it went to a whole new level, which is why quite a few of us left.
"It's obviously a difficult moment for the club. Hopefully there can be a takeover that gives Henrik the opportunity he deserves next season to rebuild the team and push for promotion."
Despite claiming just one win all season, fellow pundit Lee Hendrie added that Pedersen has done an excellent job in trying circumstances - having replaced his former boss Rohl in the summer.
"He's done a brilliant job," said Hendrie. "And I mean that when you consider the resources he's had, the players available, and everything that's gone on at the football club.
"It's been an absolute shambles and incredibly difficult for the fans, the players and the manager to deal with, while still trying to put performances on the pitch.
"But they've kept turning up, working hard and giving their best. You can see the difference in levels compared to a full-strength Sheffield United side, who are strong - but you have to recognise the job he's done.
"He's kept going, he's handled himself well and spoken with dignity. Now all they need is a clear vision of where the club is heading next season."
Sheff Wed takeover not impacted by relegation
Latest from Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett:
Sheffield Wednesday's relegation will have no impact on the takeover at Hillsborough, with all parties having a long-term expectation that whoever buys the club will be in charge next season with the team in League One.
Defeat to bitter rivals Sheffield United in the Steel City derby on Sunday confirmed Wednesday's demotion from the Championship, with 13 matches of the season still to play. No EFL club has ever been relegated in February.
The team remain on minus-seven points at the bottom of the table, after being deducted a total of 18 points for going into administration, and further breaches of the EFL rules relating to the late payment of players' wages.
Wednesday haven't won a point in any Championship game since December 29, and their solitary League win of the season came back in September. The writing has been on the wall for many months.
But crucially, relegation will have no impact on the club's current revenue streams.
Sky Sports News has been told that automatic relegation clauses in players' contracts are ready for the start of next season, while broadcast and other corporate revenues are guaranteed for the remainder of this campaign, and would-be owner James Bord is understood to be funding the rest of the club's running costs.
Whilst it's thought that Begbies Traynor, Sheffield Wednesday's administrator, is maintaining dialogue with other bidders who wish to buy the club by way of contingency should Bord's bid fail.
The purchase is still progressing under his company, Short Circuit Science, which has preferred bidder status.
Wednesday's nightmare season
June 3, 2025: The club and then-owner Dejphon Chansiri charged with breaching EFL regulations regarding payment obligations.
June 18: EFL imposes three-window fee restriction after Wednesday exceeded 30 days of late payments between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
June 26: In a statement on the club's official website, Chansiri said he was willing to sell the club.
June 27: Another embargo is imposed on the club, relating to payments owed to HMRC.
June 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
July 17: Josh Windass and Michael Smith leave the club by mutual consent.
July 29: Danny Rohl leaves role as manager by mutual consent. Club is forced to close the 9,255-capacity North Stand at Hillsborough after Sheffield City Council issued a Prohibition Notice following a meeting with the local Safety Advisory Group.
July 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
July 31: Rohl's assistant Henrik Pedersen signs a three-year deal to become the club's new manager.
August 6: The EFL releases a statement explaining their stance on the situation. "We are clear that the current owner needs either to fund the club to meet its obligations or make good on his commitment to sell to a well-funded party, for fair market value - ending the current uncertainty and impasse."
August 8: Transfer embargoes lifted after outstanding payments settled, but fee restriction remains in place.
August 10: Owls lose 2-1 to Leicester in their Championship opener at the King Power Stadium.
August 13: Prohibition Notice on North Stand lifted after "necessary professional safety assurances".
September 4: Wednesday fans launch protest against Chansiri outside Thai embassy in London.
September 30: Players and staff not paid on time.
October 4: Wednesday lose 5-0 at home to Coventry. Kick-off delayed after group of fans run onto the Hillsborough pitch in protest against Chansiri.
October 14: Players and staff receive outstanding wages from September.
October 16: News emerges of imminent winding-up petition over £1m owed to HMRC.
October 22: Wednesday fans boycott home game against Middlesbrough. No official attendance figure released.
October 24: Wednesday file for administration and receive a 12-point deduction from the EFL. Supporters' Trust reflects on "bittersweet day", saying they are "overjoyed to have Chansiri out of our club for good".
October 27: Administrators and Sheff Wed hopeful club can be sold quickly to new owners with four or five serious bidders interested.
October 30: Players and staff receive wages a day early.
December 1: Club handed further six-point deduction for separate breaches of EFL regulations. Former owner Chansiri also banned from owning or directing any EFL club for three years.
January 28: Club legend Barry Bannan leaves for Millwall after over a decade and 477 appearances.
February 22: Wednesday suffer the ignominy of being relegated by their rivals. The club remains in takeover limbo.
Wednesday's remaining Championship fixtures
February 25: Norwich (A) - Live on Sky Sports
February 28: Southampton (H)
March 7: Derby (A)
March 10: Watford (H) - Live on Sky Sports
March 14: Ipswich (H)
March 21: Hull (A)
April 3: Stoke (A)
April 6: Leicester (H)
April 11: Coventry (A)
April 18: Charlton (H)
April 21: Middlesbrough (A)
April 25: Oxford (A)
May 2: West Brom (H)
