August 4 – One of the oldest club names in English football, Sheffield Wednesday, is in a financial crisis that is putting the future of the club in jeopardy. The English Football League is concerned that the Owls will be unable to fulfil their opening Championship fixture next weekend.
Under the ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, the team from the ‘Steel City’ has failed to pay the wages of players and staff as well as made late payments to the taxman (HMRC).
Unpaid tax is reportedly running at £2.2 million while the players are owed £1.6 million having failed to receive wages on time for five of the last sixth months. A friendly against Burnley, newly promoted to the Premier League, was cancelled at the weekend reportedly by the players who refused to play after having not received July wages. The club owes more than £4 million overall.
The exodus of players has already begun as first-team players are jumping ship after exercising their right to exit contracts. To add to the turmoil, manager Danny Rohl has left the club, while the North Stand at Hillsborough Stadium has been closed due to safety concerns.
The club currently only has 15 first-team players with more looking likely to leave.
According to reports from the BBC, staff are struggling to pay bills, the cancellation of pre-season matches is impacting revenue, and players will have to pay for their own hotel rooms should they wish to stay overnight for away matches.
In March, May and June, wages were paid late, and the situation is repeating itself in July. According to league rules, once players receive late payment in two consecutive months, they can immediately become free agents by handing in their notice.
Wednesday cannot bring any players in on transfer during the next three windows because an embargo was placed upon them for late payments owed to other clubs.
Chansiri, who bought the club for £30 million in 2013, has reportedly turned down one offer of more than £60 million and is now in discussion with a sale to US sports entrepreneur Tilman Fertitta who is also reportedly providing cash to help with the club’s current trading situation.
The club’s situation has been described as “shocking” and “not tolerable” by Maheta Molango, the head of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
The long-suffering fans have directed their anger at Chansiri and have demanded that he sell the club.
He said: “I take full responsibility for being unable to fulfil my current obligations, but a further obligation I have is to ensure that if the club is sold, it is sold to the right people with the right credentials who can sustain Sheffield Wednesday and take the club forward.”
Sheffield South East MP and lifelong Wednesday fan Clive Betts previously accused Chansiri of holding it “hostage,” adding: “He must accept that he needs to sell Wednesday to prevent the complete collapse of the club… we as fans deserve better.”
Chansiri has regularly clashed with fans and in 2023 told supporters “you have no right to ask me to leave.”
In a statement released this summer, Sheffield Wednesday Fans’ Trust told Chansiri: “You are the one killing the joy of supporting a football club for tens of thousands of people.
“Stop blaming others and take responsibility. You are killing the club, not saving it.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1754310397labto1754310397ofdlr1754310397owedi1754310397sni@r1754310397etsbe1754310397w.kci1754310397n1754310397