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When Coventry City travel to Hillsborough at the start of October, we could well see a Sheffield Wednesday pitch invasion bringing the game to a standstill.
Amid financial chaos at Sheffield Wednesday this summer, it’s clear that Dejphon Chansiri has become public enemy number one around S6.
Chansiri is also being watched by the Independent Football Regulator, and there is hope that the Owls chairman will be pushed out of the club in the near future.
So far, Sheffield Wednesday boycotts have failed to make an impact. The relatively strong turnout against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup last week was a disappointing indictment of the lack of action from the fans, but that could all change with the visit of Coventry City.
- READ MORE: Grimsby Town boss opens up on ‘distressed state’ of Sheffield Wednesday after Owls exit cup
Coventry City fans support Sheffield Wednesday pitch invasion
It seems there will be a Sheffield Wednesday pitch invasion during the game against Coventry on October 4th. The game will have Sky Sports coverage and could be a huge moment for the Owls if fans do storm the pitch and disturb the match.
Taking to Reddit, Coventry City fans discussed the plans and it seems they’re backing Wednesday to do what’s needed to put pressure on Chansiri.
One Coventry supporter wrote: “If their fans think it necessary and Coventry aren’t penalised (indeed, they’d be rewarded) I don’t see the issue. It’d suck to be an away fan there though – all that money for no show.”
Another added: “Fair play to them. We’ve been there too. I don’t imagine it’ll get called off but even a short delay would send a message.”
A third said: “We did the same, remember (before anyone has a go). The mismanagement of their club has been appalling and like us, it will take years to recover. I don’t agree with stopping games… but they’ve played nice and sometimes you have to do stuff to get noticed.”
Clearly, Sky Blues fans don’t mind the anticipated disruption. “Fully support them 100%… We’ve been there, we know their pain. Fingers crossed they get their historic club back via whatever means of protest they need,” one reply reads.
Another said: “I will absolutely support anything the Wednesday fans do. Same for any other club in this situation. There has to be some sort of accountability.”
However, there are some who believe this isn’t the best way to hurt Chansiri. “The thing that worked for us was the fans staying away. I don’t think any of these protests make a difference to the owners… The fans should stay out of the stadium, it is slow and it is miserable but it is effective.”
The message to Dejphon Chansiri has to be louder
We’ve seen Sheffield Wednesday fans try various methods of voicing their frustration this season. From symbolic funerals to throwing teddy bears on the pitch, and of course, refusing to spend money at Hillsborough.
In many ways, though, Chansiri has won the battle so far. He’s still in control, enough fans are still attending games, and there is simply not enough pressure on him.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sheffield Wednesday were handed a fresh transfer embargo by the EFL on the basis that there is no secure funding in place at the club. This could easily have been a points deduction, but the EFL clearly wants to hurt Chansiri rather than the club itself.
Meanwhile, our finance expert Adam Williams told us that boycotts will push Chansiri to the limit. It may only be small amounts, but every penny withheld from the Owls owner is another penny he has to scrape from elsewhere.
A Sheffield Wednesday pitch invasion may seem drastic to some, but the message it sends would be huge. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and those times are here and now.