Sheffield United co-chair Steven Rosen is facing potential disqualification as a club director by the EFL after the vehicle through which he purchased the Championship club, COH Sports Bidco Limited, was wound up by the High Court in London on Wednesday.

How the winding-up order came about

The liquidation follows a bitter financial dispute between United's current ownership group and Prince Abdullah's United World, the consortium that sold the club in December 2024. According to the Guardian's report, United World claims it is owed £35m in unpaid fees from that £110m transaction, and filed a winding-up petition last month after becoming frustrated with a lack of resolution.

At the centre of the complaint is an allegation from United World that Rosen and his business partner Helmy Eltoukhy transferred ownership of the club to a new parent company, 1919 Partners LLC, in what Abdullah's camp contends was a deliberate attempt to sidestep the outstanding debt. 1919 Partners have acknowledged that the £35m remains outstanding but insist, according to the report, that settling the debt was not the motivation behind the restructure. The club issued only a brief statement after the hearing: "This is a matter between the current owners and former owner."

The EFL regulation that puts Rosen's position at risk

The development carries serious regulatory consequences. Under EFL rules, any club official who accumulates two insolvency events is barred from acting as a controlling owner or director. The Guardian reports that Rosen was a director of US medical manufacturer Invacare when it filed for bankruptcy in 2023 in the United States. EFL sources cited in the report confirmed that an overseas insolvency qualifies as a disqualification event under the league's regulations, meaning the liquidation of COH Sports Bidco could represent a second such episode for Rosen.

Should the EFL determine that to be the case, Rosen would face a mandatory requirement to stand down from his directorship and reduce his shareholding in the club.

The EFL said in a statement: "The league will consider the implications of that development in line with its regulations, including whether any further action is required. In addition, the EFL continues to consider other regulatory matters following changes to the club's ownership structure and developments within the wider group."

Points deduction threat remains live

Separate from the disqualification question, the EFL is understood to be examining whether the ownership group deliberately sought to avoid paying fees owed from the original purchase. Under EFL rules, if such conduct were established, the club would face a points deduction. That investigation appears to be running in parallel with the response to Wednesday's court ruling.

United World, for its part, expressed frustration that attempts at mediation came to nothing. "United World made every effort to resolve this matter amicably," read its statement, "and tried until the morning of the hearing to give the owners a final opportunity to find a solution and spare Sheffield United the consequences of their conduct. That approach, like everyone before it, received no response."

The former owner added pointedly: "It appears that Helmy Eltoukhy and Steven Rosen are simply not concerned about what this means for the club. What happens to Sheffield United now is the result of their choices."

What it means for the club on the pitch

Sheffield United are a Championship club navigating what has become an increasingly turbulent period off the pitch. The prospect of a points deduction, combined with the possibility of a key figure being removed from the ownership structure, adds significant uncertainty to the season ahead. The EFL has indicated it will not comment further while matters remain ongoing, but it is clear the governing body is watching developments at Bramall Lane very closely indeed.

Frequently asked

Why is Steven Rosen facing EFL disqualification at Sheffield United?
Rosen faces disqualification because EFL rules bar any club official who has been involved in two insolvency events from acting as a controlling owner or director. The winding-up of COH Sports Bidco Limited could constitute a second such event, following the 2023 bankruptcy of US firm Invacare, of which he was also a director.
What is the £35m dispute between Sheffield United's owners and United World?
United World, the consortium led by Prince Abdullah that sold Sheffield United in December 2024 for £110m, claims it is still owed £35m in unpaid fees from that transaction. It alleges the current owners transferred the club to a new parent company to avoid paying the outstanding amount, which the current owners deny.
Could Sheffield United receive a points deduction over the ownership dispute?
Potentially, yes. The EFL is reported to be investigating whether the club's owners deliberately sought to avoid paying fees owed from the club's purchase. Under EFL regulations, if that were proven, a points deduction would follow. No decision has been announced and the investigation is ongoing.