Wednesday warned of more “bad news” as Dejphon Chansiri, Hillsborough update drops

Former Aston Villa midfielder and football pundit Lee Hendrie has voiced serious concerns about the potential long-term impact of Dejphon Chansiri remaining involved with Sheffield Wednesday, even if the embattled Thai businessman eventually sells the club.

 

Hendrie believes that any lingering connection between Chansiri and the Owls—particularly if he retains ownership of Hillsborough Stadium—would spell “bad news” for the club and its supporters, who have endured years of turmoil under his tenure.

 

A Club in Financial Crisis

 

Sheffield Wednesday’s situation has reached a breaking point after years of mismanagement and off-field instability. Under Chansiri’s ownership, the club has repeatedly been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The EFL recently banned Wednesday from paying transfer fees for the next three windows, after the club failed to meet wage payments on time in five of the last seven months. They are also under five separate transfer embargoes, making any squad rebuilding efforts nearly impossible.

 

The latest blow came when the Daily Mail reported that the Owls are on the brink of being served with a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill of around £750,000 owed to HMRC. Should Chansiri fail to settle that debt, the only remaining option could be to place the club into administration — a move that would bring severe consequences, including a potential 12-point deduction.

 

Because Chansiri is the sole director of Sheffield Wednesday, only he can make that call. Yet despite the mounting crisis, there remain interested parties circling the club in hopes of a takeover.

 

Takeover Interest Still Alive

 

In recent weeks, several high-profile figures have been linked with potential bids for the troubled South Yorkshire side. Former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has publicly confirmed his continued interest in purchasing Wednesday, while ex-Newcastle United chief Mike Ashley and businessman David Richards are also said to be monitoring developments closely.

 

However, reports suggest that Chansiri is not yet ready to sell outright. Instead, he is believed to be seeking fresh investment—an approach that has frustrated supporters who believe only a full sale can truly end the club’s problems.

 

To make matters worse, journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that even if Chansiri does agree to sell the club or is forced into administration, he plans to retain ownership of Hillsborough Stadium, which he owns separately from the club. This would mean that any new owner would have to pay rent to continue playing at the famous ground—or face the unthinkable possibility of relocating the club.

 

Hendrie: “The Sooner He’s Gone, the Better”

 

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Lee Hendrie said he fully understands why Chansiri might want to hold on to Hillsborough in an attempt to recover some of the money he has poured into the club. However, the pundit warned that his continued involvement—no matter how limited—would only prolong Sheffield Wednesday’s suffering.

 

“I think the sooner Chansiri is away from Sheffield Wednesday, the better,” Hendrie stated.

 

“It would be bad news if he was to have any kind of connection with the club, whether that’s ownership of the stadium or involvement in any form. The atmosphere around the club has turned sour because of the way things have been handled. There’s just a bad vibe about it all.”

 

Hendrie acknowledged that Chansiri’s desire to recover some of his investment is understandable, but he added that such motives should not come at the expense of the club’s future.

 

“I totally get that he wants to get his money back,” Hendrie continued, “but that doesn’t look likely. It feels like he wants to hold onto something—perhaps the stadium—just to get some money back if the club finds success again. But honestly, the best thing for Sheffield Wednesday would be for him to walk away completely.”

Fans Turn Up the Pressure

 

The unrest among Sheffield Wednesday supporters is growing louder by the day. Many fans have lost faith in Chansiri’s ability—or willingness—to sell. In protest, they have planned a boycott of the upcoming match against Middlesbrough at Hillsborough, hoping to ramp up pressure on the ownership.

 

There are even sections of the fanbase who now believe administration could be a blessing in disguise. While it would result in a damaging points deduction, it would at least signal the end of Chansiri’s chaotic reign. However, because he owns Hillsborough separately, there is a real risk that he could still retain control of the stadium, even if the club goes into administration.

 

That prospect has left fans deeply uneasy. Unless a future owner is prepared to pay a hefty price to buy the ground outright, Chansiri’s shadow could loom over Sheffield Wednesday for years to come.

 

 

A Club at a Crossroads

 

As things stand, Sheffield Wednesday are facing a critical juncture in their history. The financial missteps, transfer restrictions, and uncertainty surrounding ownership have created a toxic environment both on and off the pitch.

 

For Hendrie and many others, one thing is clear: until Dejphon Chansiri’s association with the club is completely severed, Sheffield Wednesday will struggle to move forward.

 

> “He’s had his time,” Hendrie concluded. “The sooner he steps away entirely, the better it will be for the club, the players, and most importantly, the supporters who have stuck by this team through everything.”

 

 

 

The future of Sheffield Wednesday—and whetherHillsborough remains under Chansiri’s grip—now hangs in the balance.