Sheffield Wednesday fans have endured years of frustration, but the latest financial crisis under Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership feels like a tipping point.
Once again, players have not been paid on time, raising serious concerns about the club’s financial health and long-term sustainability. With previous transfer embargoes, soaring ticket prices, and failed promises, patience is wearing thin. Supporters deserve clarity, accountability, and a plan for the future. If Chansiri cannot provide this, the calls for him to sell the club will only grow louder.
Fans Have a Right To Be Furious
Sheffield Wednesday fans have every right to be furious. Once again, the club is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Players have not been paid on time—an embarrassing and all-too-familiar situation under Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership.
A statement claims the issue is due to “significant sums of money” being owed to Chansiri’s other businesses, impacting immediate cash flow. But this excuse is wearing thin. Why is it that season tickets are sold months in advance, yet by March, the club struggles to pay wages?
The latest admission raises serious concerns about the club’s financial sustainability and future. Last November, the Owls were placed under a second registration embargo in 12 months due to amounts owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Now, history is repeating itself. Fans deserve real answers, not another vague statement.
The Long History of Mismanagement
Chansiri’s tenure has been defined by poor financial decisions, mismanagement, and bizarre incidents that have left Wednesday in a state of chaos. Since taking over in January 2015, there has been a revolving door of managers, financial losses, and questionable commercial decisions.
From the club being placed under repeated transfer embargoes to astronomical ticket prices and bizarre kit delays, the ownership has been plagued by controversy. Chansiri’s reign has seen consistent losses, with figures like £11m in 2016 and £20m in 2017 being announced. Ticket prices have steadily risen, yet investment in the playing squad and infrastructure remains inconsistent at best.
Some of the most baffling moments of Chansiri’s ownership include changing the club badge without fan consultation, introducing a bizarre ‘Club 1867’ scheme that promised a Premier League season ticket in exchange for a £1,500 payment, and even banning BBC Radio Sheffield from covering games while charging fans £4.50 a month for a club-run alternative.
The Impact on Sheffield Wednesday’s Future
While the team sits five points off the play-offs, there is little optimism for long-term success. A strong club infrastructure is crucial for a promotion push, but under Chansiri’s leadership, the club lacks stability both on and off the pitch.
The biggest concern now is the future of Danny Rohl. The highly regarded young manager has already been linked with interest from elsewhere, and with the club’s financial instability, there is a real fear that he could be tempted away. If Rohl leaves, it would be a disaster, as he is one of the few positives in this turbulent era.
Additionally, without financial transparency, how can fans trust the club to be sustainable? The club has been under embargo multiple times, failed to pay wages, and even reached the point where Chansiri asked supporters to raise £2 million to cover debts. How much longer can this go on before the club is plunged into an even deeper crisis?
Fans Must Demand Change
Enough is enough. Sheffield Wednesday fans have been patient for nearly a decade, hoping for stability and progress. Instead, they have been met with financial mismanagement, false promises, and increasing embarrassment.
With the latest wage crisis, Chansiri has lost whatever credibility he had left. Fans must demand answers, transparency, and—most importantly—a serious discussion about the club’s future.
The reality is simple: if things do not change, Sheffield Wednesday will continue to be a club in decline. The fanbase deserves so much better than this.
