The white seats spelling out Dejphon Chansiri’s name in the North Stand at Hillsborough were taken out within an hour of Sheffield Wednesday officially entering administration, marking a defining moment in the club’s turbulent modern history.
Joint administrator Kris Wigfield has revealed that the decision to remove the seats was made almost immediately after staff confirmed there were enough replacement blue seats available. Once that assurance came through, the order was given — and the symbolic dismantling of the former owner’s name began before Friday afternoon was over.
The removal of the white seats comes just days after thousands of Wednesday fans boycotted the Middlesbrough game in protest at Chansiri’s ownership, with his name still emblazoned across the stand for all to see on live television. Now, with the Thai businessman’s controversial reign officially over, Wednesday have wasted no time in signalling a new chapter.
Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Wigfield explained the reasoning behind the swift move, calling it both “practical and deeply symbolic” for the club and its supporters.
“We felt it was important to do that early, but to be honest, we weren’t sure we’d be able to,” said Wigfield. “We were delighted when staff told us there were enough blue seats available to replace the white ones. As soon as we got that confirmation, we gave the go-ahead to get it done. It’s symbolically important — and as a lifelong Sheffield Wednesday fan and season ticket holder, I completely understand what it means. It seems to have gone down really well with the fan base, and I’m pleased we acted quickly.”
For many supporters, the removal of Chansiri’s name is about more than just aesthetics — it represents a long-awaited end to years of frustration, financial turmoil, and broken trust. Under new management, Wednesday are aiming to stabilise both on and off the pitch, with administrators Begbies Traynor overseeing efforts to find a new buyer and restore direction to the club.
While challenges lie ahead, Friday’s actions have offered supporters a symbolic glimpse of change. For a fan base desperate to reclaim pride in their club, seeing the blue seats return to the North Stand may just be the first step toward a brighter future at Hillsborough.
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