Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
After a summer of despair for Sheffield Wednesday, it does sound like there could be some light at the end of the tunnel as new regulatory powers prepare to sweep the EFL and come down hard on owners like Dejphon Chansiri.
Sheffield Wednesday fans will have gone into the summer with fairly positive expectations ahead of the 2025/26 campaign thanks to a solid midtable finish last year.
However, it’s been the summer from hell for the Owls. Unpaid wages and HMRC bills have seen Wednesday under transfer embargoes, leading to an exodus of first-team players, Danny Rohl moving on, and predictions of further punishments and relegation.
All the while, the man behind the chaos Dejphon Chansiri has remained silent. But, as fans desperately pray for a takeover that would rid the club of its current chairman, there is little hope of that happening any time soon.
What Rick Parry just said should give Sheffield Wednesday fans hope
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust previously claimed the EFL were doing nothing to help the club. But, the new Football Governance Bill could change all that, with an independent regulator set to step in and shake things up.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, EFL chairman Rick Parry outlined what the major difference is between the EFL’s current powers and what the regulator will be able to do, with a less-than-subtle hint that time may be running out for owners like Chansiri.
Parry said: “I think where the regulator will be able to take the EFL forward is that, at the moment, the EFL has the power to disqualify owners in clearly limited situations. That can only happen if they failed fairly dismally on a variety of fronts.
“The regulator will of course have the power to disqualify as well. But where it goes forward is that, while the EFL doesn’t have certain powers, the regulator will be able to order owners to sell clubs, within a defined timescale. And if they’re not meeting that commitment, then the regulator will be able to appoint a trustee to go in and run the club.
“So, it’s actually a message to owners at the moment, that it’s better to deal with the EFL and meeting the commitments rather than taking your chance with the regulator. The powers will definitely be more stringent, and that ability to order owners to divest, that is extraordinarily powerful.”
It’s previously been said that Chansiri would still pass the Owners’ and Directors’ Test carried out by the EFL, as he hasn’t technically broken any rules. Under the new regulator, that wouldn’t be enough to maintain his power at Hillsborough, clearly.
Everyone can see what Chansiri is doing to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, and whether he wants to or not, he would be pushed to sell the club to ensure its future.
- READ MORE: Rob McElhenney and Wrexham could be key to pushing Dejphon Chansiri out of Sheffield Wednesday
Does Dejphon Chansiri even want to sell Sheffield Wednesday?
Chansiri has previously stated he would sell Sheffield Wednesday when a suitable offer comes in, promising not to retain the club at its own expense and to do what’s best for the club. That’s seemingly not true, and Chansiri does appear to be reluctant to let go.
The whole takeover saga has been a bizarre process from start to finish, with Chansiri proving to be difficult to deal with every step of the way, including holding unusual demands that involve club facilities.
Now, there are genuine signs that a sale of Sheffield Wednesday could be forced through by the new regulator. It’s thought Chansiri wants £100m for the club, but you’d imagine the regulator would step in and expedite that process at a much lower price given the damage already done this summer.