Sheffield Wednesday’s turmoil under owner Dejphon Chansiri has reached breaking point, with supporters now preparing stronger measures to express their growing frustration.
The Thai businessman’s ownership of the club has been fraught with controversy ever since he took charge. Once hopeful Championship promotion contenders, the Owls endured a humiliating fall into League One between 2016 and 2021. But the discontent in South Yorkshire has deepened dramatically in recent months, as the club faces fresh financial uncertainty and possible sanctions.
Financial chaos and internal unrest
Manager Henrik Pedersen now faces an almost impossible task: keeping Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship amid mounting off-field problems. Reports suggest the club could soon face a points deduction or even administration, with the October international break dominated by crisis talks rather than footballing matters.
The club’s financial struggles resurfaced last week when it emerged that senior players and staff had not received their September wages on time — the fifth time in six months this has happened. The EFL has already placed the club under an embargo, while an outstanding £7.3 million loan remains unresolved.
To make matters worse, potential takeover discussions with John Textor, the American investor and former Crystal Palace stakeholder, have reportedly stalled. Chansiri is said to be seeking new funding to cover wages and debts, even as his £100 million valuation of the club has reportedly dropped closer to £70 million.
Fans’ anger reaches boiling point
Supporters have long accused Chansiri of incompetence and mismanagement, but the situation has now sparked outright fury. During the 5-0 defeat to Coventry City, fans staged a protest in the 10th minute, calling for the owner’s resignation.
Speaking to Football League World, Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna said the latest developments are both “laughable and infuriating.”
“At this stage, you almost have to laugh,” he said. “Every day, Chansiri shows just how unfit he is to run a football club. I didn’t think my opinion of him could get any lower, but somehow it does.”
McKenna condemned the owner for “playing with people’s livelihoods,” adding that Chansiri’s refusal to sell is destroying something deeply cherished by thousands of supporters.
“He’s trying to hold on to something that he’s already broken,” McKenna continued. “The only way forward is for fans to unite, increase the pressure, and keep protesting until he sells the club. We can’t give up.”
Supporters plan major boycott
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has now called for the strongest action yet. Under the banner of the “Black and Gold Until It’s Sold” campaign, fans are escalating their protests, urging supporters to boycott Hillsborough entirely for the upcoming home match against Middlesbrough on October 22nd.
This follows earlier boycotts of EFL Cup fixtures against Leeds United and Grimsby Town, as well as last weekend’s protests inside the ground. The Trust has also urged fans not to renew season tickets if the club launches its usual early-bird offers, arguing that withholding financial support is the most effective way to force change.
Instead, fans are being encouraged to gather in local pubs and community venues to watch the Middlesbrough game — ensuring their money stays within Sheffield rather than going into Chansiri’s pocket.
With mounting financial strain, unpaid wages, stalled takeover talks, and fan protests intensifying, Sheffield Wednesday now stand on the edge of a full-blown crisis — one that may only be resolved when Dejphon Chansiri finally steps aside.