Sheffield United's chief executive has said the club does not expect to receive a points deduction from the English Football League (EFL), despite an ongoing investigation into events surrounding the club's ownership change.

CEO Stephen Bettis made the statement during an hour-long appearance on BBC Radio Sheffield on Tuesday night. He said the club's owners would "fight hard" if any points deduction is imposed.

What triggered the investigation

The EFL launched an investigation after COH Sports Bidco Limited (CSBL), the company used to buy Sheffield United, was placed into liquidation by the High Court in August. CSBL agreed to purchase the Championship club for just over £100m in December 2024, but approximately £35m of the purchase price remains unpaid.

A winding-up petition was filed in July against CSBL by United World, the club's former owners. Under EFL rules, insolvency events can trigger a 12-point penalty.

The club's legal position

Bettis said the club's lawyers have advised that Sheffield United itself did not go into insolvency. He stated: "The 12-point deduction only relates to if the club or a company within the group goes into insolvency. 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 explained that the company which was wound up had already left the Sheffield United group before the winding-up petition was filed. "While it was within 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 said.

However, Bettis conceded there remains a risk of potential fines or points deductions. "The EFL are still investigating that and there is still the risk of that from their perspective," he added.

EFL investigation ongoing

The EFL told BBC Sport that "matters still remain ongoing". Bettis noted that the EFL has been aware of the situation for four months. "If it was clear cut we'd have been charged already, in my opinion. It's clearly not clear cut and it continues to go on," he said.

He confirmed that the club's owners have cooperated fully with the EFL investigation and are now waiting for the league's response.

In 2009, Southampton were docked 10 points by the EFL after their parent company went into administration. Bettis highlighted a key difference in Sheffield United's case: "It wasn't a parent company for Sheffield United when it happened, that's quite an important difference."