David Storch began his tenure as Sheffield Wednesday owner with a big win and a massive one.

The 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion was not to be under-estimated, not when the biggest crowd for any 2025-26 Championship game was at Hillsborough to see a relegated team who had not won there since Easter Monday 2025 take their points tally for the campaign to zero.

But the much bigger victory was the unexpected announcement that the club will start the next League One season on zero too.

League rules state clubs who come out of administration without paying unsecured creditors 25p in the pound owed or 35p over three years are docked 15 points. Although they have never had to apply it, the League said in March they had no intention of waiving it for Wednesday, out of fairness to their rivals.

But Storch, alongside business partner Tom Costin, his son Michael and new chief executive David Bruce, dramatically told fans it had been wiped minutes before kick-off in the final game of the season.

Manager Henrik Pedersen had only found out minutes earlier, and was reduced to tears by the news.

“I met him in the tunnel and David told me there is no point deduction," he said. "It was crazy because we all know how much this means for the new season."

Pedersen told Liam Palmer, the club's captain and longest-serving player, as he was warming up.

GIFT: New owner David Storch addresses supporters after the announcement his takeover has been completed (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — GIFT: New owner David Storch addresses supporters after the announcement his takeover has been completed (Image: Steve Ellis)

Starting on -15 could have meant a relegation fight but with Storch's backing and the support showcased by a 33,750 crowd, the hope will be to attract players for a title push.

The club, docked 18 points this season over its financial issues, are still expected to be under recruitment restrictions, but less severe ones than initially mooted.

Storch made great efforts to bring the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust – behind the fan boycott which accelerated Chansiri putting the club and its stadium into administration – on the journey.

"Today we return the club to the fans," he said in an on-field address to supporters before kick-off. "This is a club reborn."

He promised improvements to the stadium and a "competitive team" on the field. With those 15 points restored, the latter pledge has become far more plausible to deliver.