EFL finally puts pressure on Chansiri to end ‘uncertainty’ as Sheffield Wednesday fans given warning

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After months of chaos at Sheffield Wednesday, the EFL has finally put a statement out addressing all the problems at the club and has given Dejphon Chansiri two clear options to solve the mess.

By the end of last season, after a 12th place finish, Sheffield Wednesday fans would have been forgiven for thinking 2025/26 could be another year of progress for their club. They couldn’t have been more wrong, though.

With their manager gone, an exodus of players leaving the club, and a crumbling North Stand leaving loyal fans with nowhere to even sit, it’s safe to say Sheffield Wednesday is a club in crisis right now.

It’s no wonder many experts tip the Owls to finish rock bottom this season, and to be honest, there are no real signs of things getting better any time soon.

The only real hope is that Dejphon Chansiri sells the club and allows new owners to repair the damage he has caused.

• READ MORE: Who is John Textor? Meet the American businessman who could save Sheffield Wednesday

What the EFL statement said regarding Dejphon Chansiri issue

While there is thought to be genuine interest from John Textor to take over the Owls, the theory is that Chansiri is making things difficult and resisting a sale of the club.

All the while, the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has claimed the EFL is doing nothing to help the club get out of this perilous situation.

But now, the EFL has released a statement outlining their stance on Chansiri and the various problems at Sheffield Wednesday, with two very clear solutions put forward.

The statement begins by saying: “The League wants to see a strong, stable and competitive Sheffield Wednesday, and for that to happen we are clear that the current owner needs either to fund the club to meet its obligations or make good on his commitment to sell to a well-funded party, for fair market value – ending the current uncertainty and impasse.”

They add that the EFL is “currently in advanced discussions with Mr Chansiri’s legal advisors on formalising a process around divestment of his shareholding in the club.”

As we know, Sheffield Wednesday are currently under a transfer ban. The current Owls squad is paper thin as it is, but the EFL claims it is working with the Club Financial Reporting Unit (CFRU) to find ways to help Wednesday fulfil their fixtures.

The EFL goes on to reiterate that, despite the North Stand issue, Hillsborough Stadium still meets the required minimum capacity and that this will not impact any fixtures.

There is some more bad news on the transfer front, too. As the Owls have now hit the 30-day threshold for failed or late payments, the transfer ban has been extended to the winter window of 2027. Just yesterday, these restrictions impacted Barry Bannan’s new contract, with concerns that agreement will be rejected by the EFL.

Finally, the EFL addressed the threats from fans that they will stage protests against the current ownership. While Bannan confirmed players don’t intend to strike for the opening game against Leicester City, fans are keen to boycott Chansiri and make a statement of their own.

However, the EFL has warned them that doing so “in a way which is disruptive to the team and its ability to fulfil fixtures” could have deeper implications for the club, including further sanctions and that this could have a “detrimental impact on a future sale.”

• READ MORE: Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan reveals what was said on last call with Dejphon Chansiri

This statement is two months too late for Sheffield Wednesday

It’s great that the EFL has spoken out on the matter and appears to be actively trying to find solutions with the club, but it does feel like this is too little too late now.

The string of punishments Sheffield Wednesday have been hit by this summer, all due to the actions of one man, is a very sad indictment of the way the English Football League operates right now.

An historic football club with a passionate fanbase has been run into the ground by Chansiri, and the EFL has stood by and done nothing but further harm the future of the club by allowing him to strip the team of its best players to keep himself afloat for a few months longer.

Clearly, the Owners and Directors Test does not work. There is no way that someone like Chansiri should be allowed to run a football club, and as soon as these issues began at the start of the summer, the EFL should have been looking to protect Sheffield Wednesday, not punish the club more.