Dejphon Chansiri’s Sheffield Wednesday stance unchanged amid financial turmoil and fan backlash
Dejphon Chansiri’s attitude toward selling Sheffield Wednesday reportedly remains unchanged, despite intensifying pressure from supporters, the EFL, and HMRC.
The Owls have sunk deeper into crisis following a chaotic few months under Chansiri’s ownership. The club is currently banned from paying transfer fees for the next three windows after repeatedly missing wage payments for players and staff. On top of that, Wednesday are under five separate transfer embargoes linked to various financial breaches.
The situation at Hillsborough has become increasingly dire, with reports suggesting the club could soon be hit with a winding-up petition from HMRC over an outstanding £1 million debt. It’s also believed Wednesday owe an additional six-figure sum, while uncertainty surrounds whether Chansiri has repaid or restructured a £7.4 million loan connected to the stadium.
Should Chansiri fail to settle the tax debt, administration could become his only option. While that would trigger an automatic 12-point deduction—further compounding the points penalty already looming over the club for late wage payments—it could also fast-track the club’s potential sale.
Despite widespread calls for him to step aside, Chansiri is said to remain resistant to selling. Several groups are reportedly interested in taking over the club, including former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor, who has publicly stated his continued interest, as well as Mike Ashley and David Richards, both of whom are monitoring developments closely.
Fans have intensified their protests, with large sections boycotting Wednesday’s 1–0 home defeat to Middlesbrough. Further demonstrations are expected in the coming weeks, but so far, these efforts appear to have had little impact on Chansiri’s stance.
According to The Star, ongoing negotiations with Chansiri have been the major roadblock in recent takeover talks. Despite multiple expressions of interest, several parties are said to have “walked away frustrated” by an unclear process and the lack of a defined asking price. Chansiri has reportedly provided no guidance on what figure he would accept, and no deal is thought to be close.
A source with experience in major football club takeovers described the process as chaotic. Speaking anonymously to The Star, the figure revealed that his U.S.-based consortium had tried to open talks with Chansiri but was met with complete resistance.
“We had credible American investors ready to buy Sheffield Wednesday,” he said. “They were financially strong and had existing sporting interests, but Chansiri refused to even speak with them. It’s baffling — there’s no structure, no transparency, and no clear asking price. It’s just nonsense.”
The source claimed that Chansiri is demanding around £100 million for the club, though he believes a valuation closer to £30 million would be far more realistic given Wednesday’s dire financial state. He added that unless something changes soon, administration seems the most probable outcome.
“There are three possible outcomes,” he explained. “Either he suddenly finds the funds to stabilize things—which seems unlikely—or he agrees to sell for a fair price. But if this continues, the club will run out of money and fall into administration. That may not be ideal, but it could finally move things forward and remove him from power.”
Supporters have long suspected that Chansiri has no genuine intention of selling, and these latest revelations paint a worrying picture of just how difficult it is to negotiate with the Thai businessman.
Unless Chansiri lowers his asking price and engages seriously with buyers, a takeover looks nearly impossible. This strengthens the growing belief that administration might be the only route to saving Sheffield Wednesday from their worsening crisis.
However, with Chansiri still reluctant to surrender control or enter administration, it appears fans could face a prolonged period of uncertainty and frustration before any real resolution is achieved at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday fans boycott Middlesbrough clash amid deepening financial crisis
Sheffield Wednesday supporters are boycotting their televised Championship home fixture against Middlesbrough as anger grows over the club’s worsening financial situation under owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Thousands of fans opted to stay away from Hillsborough in protest against Chansiri’s ownership. The Owls sit bottom of the Championship table after ten games, having managed just a single league victory all season.
The instability extends beyond the pitch. Former manager Danny Röhl, who was recently appointed by Rangers, departed late in pre-season, leaving new boss Henrik Pedersen to deal with a depleted squad. Only 15 senior players were available for the opening game of the season against Leicester City — a sign of the club’s ongoing crisis.
Off the field, the situation is even more alarming. Chansiri, the Thai businessman who bought Wednesday in 2015, faces mounting calls to sell his full ownership stake after years of protests. His asking price is reportedly around £100 million, more than double what he initially paid for the club — a figure that has so far deterred potential buyers.
The pressure on Chansiri intensified last week after reports revealed that Sheffield Wednesday are set to receive a winding-up petition from HMRC over an unpaid £1 million tax bill. The club is already under five separate EFL embargoes and has failed to pay wages on time in five of the past seven months.
Supporters’ Trust urges fans to take a stand
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has led the latest round of protests, calling for a full boycott of the Middlesbrough game to send a powerful message to the club’s hierarchy.
Vice-chairman James Silverwood acknowledged the difficulty for fans in missing a home game but said the move is necessary to push Chansiri toward selling the club.
“We know it’s a big sacrifice, but it’s one being made for the greater good,” Silverwood told The Yorkshire Post. “We’re asking fans to make this stand to help accelerate Dejphon Chansiri’s decision to sell Sheffield Wednesday. We cannot keep funding our own decline.”
As tensions escalate both on and off the field, Wednesday’s future remains uncertain — with fans determined to see change at Hillsborough, even if it means staying away from their beloved club for now.
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