Exclusive: Wednesday registration of Wilkinson made late

Company law requires all new directors to be registered at Companies House within 14 days of taking office but although Wednesday announced Wilkinson's appointment in May the club has only now lodged the official paperwork.

Failure to comply is an offence which can result in a fine of up to 5,000 and subsequent smaller fines for any continuing breach of rules. However, the club last night refused to comment on whether they had breached the legal requirement. Companies House records show the Owls notified the resignation of former chairman Lee Strafford in May but no registration of Wilkinson.

Supporters' group Wednesdayite, the club's second largest shareholder, is now raising the issue with Wednesday's board alongside general concerns about the club's hierarchy.

Wednesdayite is understood to have misgivings over the actions of the Owls' board after a summer in which the club has been on the receiving end of a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs as a financial crisis threatens Hillsborough.

Although the Owls refused to comment on the legalities of Wilkinson's appointment, a spokesman said Wednesday had decided not to register the new chairman because he was only an interim appointment before being confirmed long term in the role two days ago.

While declining to comment on the specifics of Wednesday's case, a Companies House spokesman said: "A director is a director regardless of the appointment being interim or not, so a form notifying Companies House is required to be filed within 14 days of the appointment date."

Wednesday's spokesman added Wilkinson had been away on holiday for a large part of the summer which had also made completing formalities difficult. He said: "I can confirm the paperwork has now been lodged with Companies House."

Wilkinson, who is also chairman of the League Managers' Association, declined to comment.