Sheffield Wednesday supporters intensified their protests against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the club’s Championship opener at Leicester City.
Fans used banners, a plane, and a delayed entrance to make their feelings clear over what they see as a damaging reign.
A decade after his arrival promising Premier League football, Chansiri is now facing united opposition from the terraces. The protests at the King Power Stadium followed months of late wage payments, transfer embargoes, and fears over the club’s financial stability.
Fans Voice Their Anger
Outside the stadium, around 2,000 travelling Wednesday fans gathered with a large flag portraying Chansiri as Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, reading: “Sell the club you plonker!” Overhead, a plane flew with a “Dejphon Chansiri Out” banner. Supporters delayed taking their seats until the fifth minute, leaving an empty away end as a symbolic show of discontent.
Once inside, the away support dominated the noise, particularly after Nathaniel Chalobah’s opener in a game the Owls would eventually lose 2-1. Former loanee Shea Charles was warmly greeted, with his brother Pierce currently the club’s goalkeeper, showing the protest’s focus was firmly on ownership rather than the players.
Mounting Problems at Hillsborough
Wednesday’s troubles extend beyond fan unrest. The North Stand at Hillsborough is closed over safety concerns, while players and staff have been affected by repeated delays to wage payments. Some players, including promotion hero Josh Windass, have exercised their right to leave under FIFA rules after going unpaid for two months, with Windass joining Wrexham and Michael Smith moving to Preston North End.
The EFL charged both the club and Chansiri in June for late payments, and the PFA has publicly criticised the situation. Staff on modest wages have been hit particularly hard, with the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust setting up a fund to provide £500 emergency grants.
Uncertain Future
While Wednesday are no longer under a transfer embargo, they cannot pay transfer fees until 2027 after exceeding 30 days of late payments to other clubs. The EFL says talks over a sale are ongoing, with former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor and a US-based consortium linked with interest. However, the Supporters’ Trust has also begun contingency plans for a phoenix club, in case the crisis deepens.
Chansiri’s silence has only heightened tensions, and while a recent Premier League solidarity payment has eased immediate financial pressure, it offers no long-term solution. The Football Governance Act, which will introduce an independent regulator, cannot yet intervene.
Writer’s View
Wednesday’s plight has become a cautionary tale for EFL clubs. A lack of transparency, repeated financial breaches, and disengagement from supporters have created a perfect storm of unrest.
While there is belief the club will survive, survival alone is not the standard fans want: they want stability, ambition, and an owner they can trust. Until that changes, Hillsborough’s atmosphere off the pitch will remain as tense as any Championship relegation fight.
