Not only did Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri fail to live up to one promise he uttered in 2015, but his reversal on the situation is the reason behind the club’s issues.
Sheffield Wednesday continue to face constant hurdles this summer, with preparations for the 2025/26 Championship season taking a colossal hit.
After the back-end of last season saw concerns emerge regarding players’ and staff’s payment, issues have spiralled out of control for the club, both on and off the pitch.
Several Sheffield Wednesday players have moved on, notably Josh Windass, Michael Smith, Djeidi Gassama, and Anthony Musaba, leaving the Owls with a depleted first-team squad.
Several poor decisions over the years have led to Sheffield Wednesday finding themselves in their current danger, but they all ultimately stem from one broken promise by Dejphon Chansiri back in 2015.
Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesWhat Dejphon Chansiri said when buying Sheffield Wednesday in 2015
After taking over from Milan Mandaric, Dejphon Chansiri had sizeable ambitions for Sheffield Wednesday when taking over, including taking the club to the Premier League by their 150th anniversary (2017).
Whilst it cannot be stuck on Chansiri for Sheffield Wednesday not notching promotion in the two years after purchasing the club, as they came dramatically close in the 2015/16 season, only to lose to Hull City in the Championship play-off final, courtesy of a Mo Diame screamer. The following season saw the Owls come close once again, only to fall out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage.
However, Chansiri also said: “I believe there needs to be some investment into the club but just throwing money is not a guarantee of success. We need to do it in a smart, sustainable manner.”
The early years of the Chansiri reign saw Sheffield Wednesday spend recklessly, with a fee around the region of £10m being spent on Jordan Rhodes, whilst wages were also on the lofty side before the Owls were hit with relegation to League One.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesOwls’ departures have severely hampered the club
It is all well and good bringing players in for hefty fees, but the way in which such stars have been managed by the club has ultimately contributed to the downfall.
Sheffield Wednesday’s five record departures only include one player from the Dejphon Chansiri era, which is an incredibly poor feat when realising that he has been a part of the club for 10 years.
Sheffield Wednesday have continuously operated at a loss, to the point where it was inevitably going to cause issues for Chansiri. Unfortunately, the ripple effects have been seismic, with it looking set to be an incredibly difficult season for Sheffield Wednesday.