LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Sheffield Wednesday fans told how to instigate change from Dejphon Chansiri with Reading takeover example

Add as preferred source on Google

Sheffield Wednesday are on the precipice of turmoil, and football finance expert Kieran Maguire has told the Owls fanbase how they can push owner Dejphon Chansiri to act.

The financial saga at Sheffield Wednesday has been the talk of Championship headlines throughout the post-season summer.

In the wake of the Owls’ 12th-placed finish last season, the club’s economic turmoil saw owner Dejphon Chansiri fail to pay Owls players and some non-playing staff for May, which led some staff to take up emergency funding.

Amid Chansiri’s failure to pay wages, Sheffield Wednesday were hit with a double embargo by the EFL, following the Owls’ three-window transfer ban.

Problems have taken another turn for the worse due to wages once again going unpaid for June. With little light at the end of the tunnel, a football finance expert has told the Sheffield Wednesday fanbase how they can instigate change against Chansiri.

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri watches Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town - Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final: Second Leg
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Expert tells Sheffield Wednesday fans how to instigate change against Dejphon Chansiri

The turn of July is pivotal for Sheffield Wednesday, as EFL Analysis confirmed that some Owls players did go unpaid for June, and we are told that some are considering contract terminations, with Chansiri facing possible strike action.

Sheffield Wednesday fans have been praying for takeover talks at Hillsborough to materialise, with Adam Shaw trying to buy Sheffield Wednesday, and former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor “considering” an Owls takeover.

Chansiri commented on selling Sheffield Wednesday last week, stating that takeover offers had been rejected, which saw Sheffield Wednesday fans hit out at Chansiri for his demands.

With a change, perhaps enforced, the only option left in the minds of Sheffield Wednesday fans, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has told the Owls faithful how to push for change amid the crisis after his worrying Sheffield Wednesday prediction.

Maguire told BBC Sport’s Football Heaven: “Be organised. Be professional. Keep it all within the law.

“I’m not going to suggest all turn up on the first day of the season and throw plastic Owls onto the pitch,

“That’s embarrassing for (Dejphon) Chansiri, we saw Charlton fans do similar,

“My view, is non-violent, direct action. Consider doing things which a, are good, and b, look good. So say, we’re going to have a boycott of merchandise, but instead of buying a Wednesday shirt this season, I am going to put £20 in as a fighting fund for those members of staff who have not been paid.

“We are going to show, as Owls fans, that we are passionate about our football club. Yes, we’re going to buy our season tickets because we still love Sheffield Wednesday, but at the same time, we are fully aware of the predicament of staff and we’re going to show our support through alternate means.

“You need to set up a committee, you need to get organised, get publicity.

“The Reading fans, the way that they organised themselves, I was very impressed with their professionalism. I do a podcast. and we had the Reading fans on, we had the local Reading MP on,

“It was all a case of building up a weight of evidence, to the owner which says ‘We feel you’re a bit out of your depth, there’s an opportunity to leave the club with a bit of dignity, and if you don’t, this is what’s going to be happening on a regular basis, and it’s going to be very embarrassing for you on a personal and professional level.”

Maguire’s point regarding Reading and the club’s recent takeover provides a battle map for the Owls faithful to help them instigate change against Chansiri.

Reading fans protest against the clubs owner Dai Yongge during the Sky Bet League One match between Reading and Derby County at Select Car Leasing Stadium
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday supporters told to follow Reading fans’ example

Reading finished the League One campaign in 7th place, just three points shy of a play-off spot, but their season ended on a high note as a result of the club’s takeover.

After numerous points deductions, relegations, and transfer embargoes under owner Dai Yongge’s tenure, Reading and the EFL announced the long-awaited sale of the club earlier in the season.

Reading fans were elated with the takeover after it was confirmed by the EFL, and it was clear that the businessman was not fit for football ownership when it emerged that Yongge owed up to £850m in his native China.

Yongge’s tenure was labelled “disgraceful” by Steve Sidwell, and EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff made a call for Reading action before the takeover went through.

After years of protests, media coverage, and takeover attempts, the future is now much brighter at Reading under the new ownership group led by former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig.

Maguire hailed the “professionalism” of the Reading faithful for their efforts to instigate a takeover, and despite the understandable contempt among the Owls faithful towards Chansiri, the Sheffield Wednesday supporters must follow suit to push for change at Hillsborough.