Sheffield Wednesday fans have huge plans for Steel City derby but Chansiri issue could ruin it all

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Just a few months ago, the idea of a Steel City derby being a relegation six-pointer would be unthinkable, but the meeting between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United in November will be a fascinating battle.

Both teams are currently in the bottom three in the Championship after dire starts to the season. But, it was very different not so long ago.

Last season, it would be fair to say that Sheffield United proved they are the best team in the Steel City. Two 1-0 wins both home and away helped Chris Wilder earn bragging rights for the red half of Sheffield.

So much has changed since their last meeting with Sheffield Wednesday, though. For the Owls, financial crisis has left the club on the precipice, while Danny Rohl has moved on to make way for Henrik Pedersen.

United narrowly missed out on promotion with defeat in the Championship play-off final, leading to Wilder leaving the club to be replaced by Ruben Selles. However, Selles has already lost his job, and it seems Wilder will be back soon, just in time for the Steel City derby!

• READ MORE: Henrik Pedersen offers four Sheffield Wednesday youngsters golden opportunity

Sheffield Wednesday fans want total boycott of Steel City derby

The two teams will meet on November 23rd for a lunchtime kick-off on the Sunday at Hillsborough. We know how much Wilder relishes these games, but the funny thing is he might not have many Sheffield Wednesday fans to rile up when he arrives in S6 this time.

That’s because Owls supporters are planning to continue their protests and boycotts against Dejphon Chansiri, with the biggest stay-away yet being called for ahead of the Steel City derby.

One supporter demanded the entire fanbase stay away from Hillsborough for the game, taking to Twitter/X to write: “Sheffield Derby should be boycotted. Imagine the coverage. Just 4,000 Blunts in the ground. No one else. Sadly won’t happen but it should.”

Another fan replied: “I WONT be there. No chance. I’m doing this for my son so he has better times than my last 25 years of Hell. Our fans need to step up the boycott. Who cares about going against Sheffield United when Chansiri has taken any chance of winning away before a ball was kicked?”

A third said: “Been saying this for a while. Also needs to be on the basis that every season ticket holder who boycotts states they won’t be renewing in January.”

Others agreed with the idea, adding that it would be the “strongest message”, but there were more than a few doubts about the plan creeping in.

Among the replies, there was a theory shared that Chansiri would simply sell the unused tickets to Sheffield United supporters to recoup his losses.

One fan said: “I agree with this in principle but I think, if the Grimsby game is anything to go on, he’d sell the tickets to Blunts and we’d end up with 30,000 pigs treating it like a home game!”

Another suggested this should be the complete opposite, writing: “I disagree. It needs to be the one game where we don’t boycott and use this to send a message to the world. Proper protests should be organised and the TV will give it the coverage.”

• READ MORE: Dejphon Chansiri stance becomes clear as he opens up ‘talks’ with investors at Sheffield Wednesday

Grimsby Town clash proves Sheffield Wednesday fans can’t stay away

To be fair, those fans who think the boycott would fail may have a point. Many had expected the Carabao Cup clash with Grimsby Town to be a non-event this week, but it doesn’t seem that’ll be the case.

At the time of writing, almost 3,000 tickets have been sold for the South Stand at Hillsborough, suggesting that fans will still be turning up for the game.

Obviously, some Sheffield Wednesday fans are staying away from the cup game. Even Grimsby fans are planning to avoid spending money at the ground to support the cause.

But, if Owls fans can’t even stay away for a cup tie against a League Two side, there’s no way they’re going to miss the Steel City derby, regardless of the message it would send to Chansiri.