Sheffield Wednesday desperate for change as Chansiri era nears potential end
Sheffield Wednesday supporters are increasingly calling for new ownership as the club continues to struggle under Dejphon Chansiri’s turbulent reign. According to BBC reporter Rob Staton, entering administration could “effectively” mark the end of Chansiri’s control at Hillsborough.
The Owls have faced repeated financial problems in recent months, including delays in paying players and staff. Under the controversial Thai owner, the club has endured years of instability both on and off the field.
Currently sitting in the Championship relegation zone alongside Sheffield United and Oxford United, Wednesday have managed just one win from their opening nine matches. They are a single point adrift of safety, trailing Blackburn Rovers in 21st place.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Staton explained:
“If the Owls were to enter administration, Chansiri’s ownership of Sheffield Wednesday would effectively end and the club would be run by administrators until a new buyer could be found. This isn’t a scenario supporters want, but it’s now more likely than ever that there’ll be a change at the top.”
The team’s most recent outing — a 5-0 defeat to high-flying Coventry City before the international break — only intensified pressure on the ownership. Next up, they face a crucial away trip to Charlton Athletic at The Valley.
At present, Wednesday’s situation looks bleak. The club is in desperate need of fresh leadership to stabilise operations and rebuild for the future. A return to League One appears increasingly likely, with the squad lacking both depth and quality.
Despite the circumstances, interim boss Pedersen continues to make the most of limited resources, keeping the team fighting and ensuring they haven’t yet been cut adrift at the bottom.
Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly set to face a winding-up petition from HMRC over an unpaid tax bill of around £1 million, according to BBC Radio Sheffield. The move would increase pressure on club owner Dejphon Chansiri to sell, as the Owls are already under six separate EFL embargoes for repeatedly missing wage payments.
If the petition goes ahead and Chansiri cannot settle the debt, he may have no option but to place the club into administration, the Daily Mail reports. Such a move would trigger a points deduction, but it could also push the owner toward finally selling the club.
Tensions have been high among supporters — a recent match against Coventry City was briefly halted after a small group of fans stormed the pitch in protest at the club’s ownership. While Chansiri has previously expressed openness to selling, no deal has been reached with potential buyers.
Despite implementing cost-cutting measures over the summer, Sheffield Wednesday’s revenues reportedly still fall short of their financial obligations. Fans have responded with continued demonstrations, boycotting home EFL Cup games against Leeds and Grimsby and refusing to buy food or drinks at Hillsborough, following calls from the supporters’ trust.
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