Sheffield United face insolvency hearing as former owners pursue £35m debt claim
United World warns of potential 12-point deduction and EFL sanctions against co-owner Steve Rosen if court grants winding-up order on 19 August.
Sheffield United are set to face a winding-up hearing in court on 19 August after former owner United World issued a petition claiming current owners COH Sports Bidco owe £35m for the club’s acquisition. The legal proceeding centres on a disputed debt from the 2024 takeover, with United World asserting that the sum remains unpaid despite the change in control.
The former ownership group has warned that the outcome of the hearing could trigger significant regulatory consequences for the Championship club. If the court declares the current owners insolvent, Sheffield United could face a 12-point deduction under EFL rules. Additionally, sources close to United World suggest that co-owner Steve Rosen may be banned from his role, citing EFL Regulation 2.1.16 which disqualifies individuals involved in two insolvencies within a ten-year period.
Rosen’s potential disqualification relates to his previous tenure as non-executive chairman of the US company Invacare, which suffered an insolvency event in 2023. United World has indicated that the club’s current financial standing is jeopardised by the unresolved debt, urging billionaires Helmy Eltoukhy and Steve Rosen to settle the claim to avoid administration and the associated uncertainty for the club.
In response, current owners have dismissed the petition as a publicity stunt orchestrated by former owner Prince Abdullah. A statement from sources close to COH Sports Bidco insisted the club is financially healthy, contrasting its current stability with the previous ownership period which saw a points deduction for missing payments to football creditors. The current owners reiterated their invitation for Abdullah to re-invest and join the ownership group to support promotion efforts.
While the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator are aware of the situation, United World stated there has been no intervention to date. The club began the new Championship season with a goalless draw against Birmingham, but the looming court date on 19 August remains the primary focus for governance and financial stability at Bramall Lane.
