Sheffield Wednesday supporters are set to stage protests at the club's opening match of the season against Leicester City on Sunday, as anger towards owner Dejphon Chansiri reaches boiling point. Fans plan to leave their seats empty for the first five minutes and display a large anti-Chansiri banner, while a plane will fly overhead with a further message aimed at the Thai businessman.
The protests come after a summer of turmoil at Hillsborough, with staff not receiving full wages in June and July, leading to the departures of key players Josh Windass and Michael Smith. The club also sold prized asset Djeidi Gassama to Rangers for £2.2m—well below market value—to cover the wage shortfall. There are currently only 16 first-team players, including a single goalkeeper, and the club is under a transfer embargo until 2027.
Head coach Danny Röhl has left, and his replacement, Henrik Pedersen, faces an uphill battle to bring stability. Players refused to play a friendly against Burnley last week, releasing a statement demanding a resolution. Even Pedersen was unsure until late this week whether captain Barry Bannan could be registered for Sunday's match after signing a new contract, with funds from Premier League solidarity payments only arriving on Friday.
The supporters' trust has set up a fund to help club employees facing financial hardship. Meanwhile, the North Stand—named after Chansiri and holding 9,000 fans—has been closed by the council due to roof safety concerns, with the club hoping to reopen it for the first home game against Stoke City next Saturday.
Chansiri has said he is willing to sell the club but is seeking £100m, a figure many potential buyers consider excessive. One interested party is American John Textor, though his financial record at Lyon has caused unease among supporters. Ian Bennett, chair of the supporters' trust, said: 'The attitude among the fans at the minute is despair. There's a massive opportunity for somebody to take this club by the scruff of the neck and make a lot of money.'
