Sheffield Wednesday coach had to be persuaded ‘not to quit’ when Dejphon Chansiri ‘ranted’ after key loss

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Sheffield Wednesday fans have been given an unpleasant insight into life at Hillsborough under Dejphon Chansiri, and a number of their fears have been confirmed.

The Owls owner has been the subject of fan protest and unwanted media attention, with efforts to get him to sell the club ramping up over the summer after staff were unpaid for two months, players could terminate their contracts and manager Danny Rohl left the club.

Issues have been bubbling under the surface for years, though, and The Times has now revealed that the incoming Independent Football Regulator will likely be investigating Chansiri as a ‘matter of urgency’, as well as other behind the scenes incidents involving players and staff.

Now, further anecdotes have come to light, with one journalist detailing Chansiri’s controversial reaction to a Sheffield Wednesday defeat in their League One promotion season.

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Sheffield Wednesday’s ‘mishandling of staff’ almost ‘cost them promotion’ from League One

According to Sheffield Star columnist Alan Biggs, reports of Chansiri angering Owls players echo what he had heard during their League One promotion season in the 2022/23 campaign.

Wednesday beat Barnsley to win the play-off final 1-0, but had blown their chance of automatic promotion earlier in the season after previously being top of the table.

A 4-2 defeat at Barnsley in March 2023 marked the end of the club’s record 23-game unbeaten run, with Darren Moore’s side dropping to second in the table as a result. Biggs understands Chansiri’s reaction to this defeat did not go down well with the Wednesday dressing room.

On Monday, he wrote on X: “This echoes things I heard (in confidence but supported by one of those there) of Chansiri ranting at the team after #SWFC lost a record 23 game unbeaten run at Barnsley in 2023. Almost cost promotion. Heard manager had to persuade coaches not to quit.

“I don’t think people appreciated the background [during that season],” he continued. “What the manager of the time had to put up with … & those before & since. That’s why I’ve always said it’s not just about money. It’s the level of mismanagement & mishandling of staff which beggars belief.”

Wednesday did in fact suffer a dip in form after the Tykes defeat, summed up by Peterborough sticking four goals past them in the play-off semi-finals.

However, Wednesday miraculously bounced back to make it 5-5, beating Posh on penalties in the reverse leg before winning at Wembley. The issues behind the scenes with Thai businessman Chansiri clearly haven’t disappeared, though.

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust throw support behind London protest

As further news of chaos behind the scenes at Hillsborough emerges, the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has publicly backed plans to protest against Chansiri in London.

Fan group the London Owls released a statement last week to confirm a protest outside the Thai Embassy in the capital on September 4.

Now, the Trust have pledged their support in the demonstration and have encouraged fans to join in, highlighting the important media coverage it could provide in their effort to push Chansiri out of the club.

It said in a post on X on Tuesday: “The Trust stands in full support of the peaceful protest being organised by the London Owls at the Thai Embassy on 4th September, a significant date that also marks the 158th anniversary of our club.

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“This demonstration represents a vital step in holding our absentee owner, Dejphon Chansiri, accountable for his calamitous mismanagement.”

The Trust will be providing further support to the London Owls ahead of the protest.