Football Club Sheffield Wednesday placed in administration

Sheffield Wednesday is one of the UK's oldest football clubs

One of the UK's oldest football clubs has been placed into administration.

Administration is what happens when a football club or company cannot pay its bills, or money that it owes.

An administrator (from a qualified accountancy firm) is put in place to carry out the job of running the business whilst a plan is put together to try to help solve the money problems.

Sheffield Wednesday have also been docked 12 points by the English Football League for entering administration. The team were already bottom of the table, and now they sit 13 points lower than the next team up, Blackburn Rovers.

The EFL shared a statement confirming that the club's owner has successfully "taken the necessary steps to appoint administrators to both the club and also the company which owns Hillsborough"

It continued: "Whilst this development results in the automatic deduction of 12 points in accordance with regulations agreed by all clubs, it also presents Sheffield Wednesday with the opportunity to move matters towards a successful sale and secure future under new ownership."

Fans of the club had previously protested, and boycotted - which means not attended matches - to show their disappointment in the way the club was being run..

But with the announcement that the club is going into administration, Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust (SWST) said that their boycott of matches was now over and they are encouraging as many fans as possible to attend the club's next game against Oxford.

Fans held protests and boycotts to express their unhappiness

Paul Stanley, one of the joint administrators, said there wouldn't be any changes to matches and wanted to reassure fans "we are in close contact with the EFL to ensure the effects of this administration on the employees, supporters, the community and the players are minimised as far as possible.

"Sheffield Wednesday is a massive, historic club with a loyal fanbase in a city that lives and breathes football. If more fans return to Hillsborough, the club can cover its day-to-day costs and move towards a viable sale to a new ownership capable of restoring long-term stability.

"With the right ownership structure, we are confident the club has a bright future and will meet all EFL regulatory obligations." he said.