New Sheffield Wednesday crisis update emerges as Dejphon Chansiri defies administration advice
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri is reportedly attempting to strike a deal with HMRC in a desperate bid to delay a winding-up order and prevent the club from falling into administration, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The ongoing crisis at Hillsborough has become one of the most troubling sagas in English football this year, with the club’s financial situation worsening by the month. Under Chansiri’s leadership, Wednesday have been plagued by instability and mismanagement, but 2025 has taken those issues to an entirely new level. The club has failed to pay players and staff on time in five of the last seven months, while a massive unpaid tax bill now threatens the club’s very existence.
That unpaid bill has left Sheffield Wednesday on the brink of a winding-up order—a legal step that could push the club into administration. Ironically, while such an outcome could be devastating in the short term, some within the fanbase and the wider football community believe it could finally pave the way for an end to Chansiri’s turbulent reign.
Chansiri’s desperate bid to retain control
Despite the growing pressure and advice from his own advisers to step aside, Alan Nixon reports that Chansiri remains determined to cling onto control of the club. Writing on his Patreon, Nixon revealed that the Thai businessman is seeking to agree a structured payment plan with HMRC to delay or halt the winding-up order.
If successful, this move would allow Chansiri to keep Wednesday out of administration—at least temporarily—and potentially buy more time to secure outside investment. However, this appears to be a last-ditch effort to preserve his ownership, as repeated attempts to attract new investors have failed.
Sources close to the club say that “close aides” to Chansiri have already reached out to a leading financial restructuring firm that could oversee the administration process. Yet, despite the mounting evidence that administration might be inevitable, Chansiri is still resisting any move that would strip him of power.
HMRC’s tough stance
HMRC are understood to be taking a hardline position on the matter. Given the size of the unpaid tax bill and the club’s ongoing cash flow problems, there is little expectation that the tax authorities will be sympathetic to Chansiri’s pleas. They are willing to listen to repayment proposals, but with the club’s finances stretched to breaking point, convincing HMRC to delay formal action may prove a monumental task.
The likely outcome of Chansiri’s maneuvering, if successful at all, would only be a temporary reprieve—a short delay to buy time rather than a lasting solution. With no concrete investment on the horizon and the financial hole deepening, time appears to be running out for the controversial owner.
Pedersen battles on amid turmoil
While the off-field situation grows increasingly dire, head coach Henrik Pedersen is doing everything he can to keep the football side functioning. The Danish manager has tried to maintain focus and morale among players and staff, many of whom have been directly affected by the club’s financial disarray.
Pedersen, who is reportedly making personal sacrifices to help colleagues through the crisis, has been praised by supporters for his professionalism and resolve. Despite his efforts, however, the on-field picture mirrors the chaos behind the scenes. Wednesday currently sit bottom of the Championship table, having managed just one win and three draws from their opening six games.
The road ahead looks bleak for the Owls. With Middlesbrough visiting Hillsborough on Wednesday night, Pedersen faces the daunting task of rallying his players to compete amid uncertainty and distraction.
For Sheffield Wednesday supporters, the message is clear: until a decisive change in ownership or structure is made, the club’s future remains perilously uncertain. Whether Chansiri’s negotiations with HMRC succeed or not, the feeling around Hillsborough is that the clock is ticking on his troubled tenure.