Sheffield United CEO says club do not expect EFL points deduction

Sheffield United chief executive Stephen Bettis told BBC Radio Sheffield on Tuesday night that the club do not expect to receive an English Football League points deduction and that the owners would "fight hard" if any such sanction is imposed. He made the remarks during an hour-long appearance on the programme.

The EFL launched an investigation after the company used to buy the club was placed into liquidation by the High Court in August. COH Sports Bidco Limited (CSBL) agreed to purchase the Championship club for just over £100m in December 2024 but about £35m remains outstanding on the deal. A winding-up petition was filed in July against CSBL by United World, and insolvency events can trigger a 12-point penalty under EFL rules.

Bettis said: "The EFL are investigating the process and what has happened." He told listeners that the 12-point sanction applies only "if the club or a company within the group goes into insolvency" and added: "The advice our owners have got from their lawyers is that the club certainly didn't go into insolvency - we're funded, we're paying all our bills on time."

He also noted the separate company now has a court order against it, saying: "The company that no longer is in the group has now had a winding up order against it." Bettis described the owners' position that the winding-up petition arose after that entity had left the Sheffield United group and that while it was in the group it "never had a winding up order, it didn't become insolvent - their belief is that that stops the 12-point deduction happening."

Bettis acknowledged the EFL investigation continues and that sanctions remain possible, telling BBC Radio Sheffield: "The EFL are still investigating that and there is still the risk of that from their perspective." He added: "I think if any decision is made to go down that path obviously the owners will fight that quite hard." BBC Sport contacted the EFL for comment and were told "matters still remain ongoing."

The article referenced a 2009 precedent when Southampton were docked 10 points by the EFL after their parent company went into administration, noting the club at the time argued there was no financial link between the two entities. Bettis stressed a difference for Sheffield United, saying: "It wasn't a parent company for Sheffield United when it happened, that's quite an important difference."

Bettis said the EFL has been aware of the matter for four months and that the owners "have cooperated fully with the EFL investigation. They are now deliberating internally and we're waiting for their response." Asked by BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton whether the club expect a points deduction, Bettis replied: "From the advice the lawyers for our owners were given - that is what we've been told. I'm not going to sit here and categorically say we're not at risk, until the verdict is given I'm not going to make myself look an idiot. There's still that risk, whether it's a fine, a points deduction, all of those are on the table still and until they are not we have to be open and understand that's the situation."

Bettis told Football Heaven that "discussions continue" between the Blades' owners and former owner Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud over the nearly £35m payment they believe should be reduced, saying: "The existing owners have issues with the previous owner, they are continuing to discuss and potentially feel the sum of money outstanding should be a lesser sum. Those discussions continue." He added: "I don't believe for one minute the new owners are trying to not pay Prince Abdullah the monies outstanding, but think the sum needs to be adjusted." Bettis also said director Timothy Ryan "has passed the fit and proper owner test with both the EFL and Independent Football Regular" and that he had been told the prospect of co-chair Steven Rosen facing disqualification by the EFL was "not an issue."

The EFL investigation remains live and the club is awaiting the regulator's decision; Bettis reiterated that until the EFL reaches a verdict the possibility of fines or a points deduction cannot be ruled out, while BBC Sport were told by the EFL that "matters still remain ongoing."