Sheffield Wednesday’s financial issues resurfaced on Monday evening after owner Dejphon Chansiri failed to pay the players’ wages for March.
The controversial Wednesday owner cited “cashflow” as the reason for the delay, while also describing the situation as “temporary”.
Statement
Last night, Sheffield Wednesday released the following statement:
“Sheffield Wednesday can confirm a temporary issue with the payment of player salaries for the month of March.”
“This has occurred as a result of significant sums of money owed to the chairman’s businesses which has in turn impacted on the club’s immediate cashflow.
“The chairman is working hard to resolve this situation at the earliest possible opportunity and in the meantime thanks everyone for their patience and understanding.”
Previous Troubles
This is the second time this season that the Owls have had known money problems. In November, the club were placed under a registration embargo due to amounts owed to HMRC, replicating the issues of the prior campaign.
In the statement that Wednesday released at the time, they also described the situation in the same manner as this current issue, though players and staff were understood to have been paid on this occasion.
Just two months ago, Chansiri hosted a fans’ forum. The Thai businessman revealed that he hadn’t spoken to manager Danny Röhl in over a month, despite being in the midst of the January transfer window. Wednesday made just two acquisitions during the window.
In came Stuart Armstrong and Ibrahim Cissoko, who arrived from Vancouver Whitecaps and Toulouse respectively. Ryo Hatsuse also joined the South Yorkshire side after a trial. This was in addition to Shea Charles’s return. The Southampton loanee was revealed to have been recalled to the South Coast by the Owls owner at the fans’ forum, before moving back to S6.
What’s Next?
Sheffield Wednesday currently have seven games remaining, with the club sitting in twelfth spot. Their aspirations of a Play-Off spot took a hit at the weekend with a draw at Cardiff City, though the sides who started the gameweek in fifth to seventh in the table all lost.
That leaves the Owls five points behind sixth-place West Brom, ahead of their home clash with another side troubled with relegation at the weekend: Hull City. But Wednesday’s form has been far superior away from home this term. Unfortunately, four of their last seven games are at Hillsborough, where they have the second-worst record in the division.
Writer’s View
Owls supporters have had their patience tested plenty over the decade that Chansiri has been the owner, but events in the past few months appear to have tipped fans over the edge. With the future of manager Danny Röhl uncertain ahead of the summer, questions once again have to be asked of the Thai businessman and his inability to run Sheffield Wednesday.
