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Sheffield Wednesday in Financial Trouble as Owner Dejphon Chansiri Faces Criticism
Sheffield Wednesday, a storied club with a history of English championships and FA Cup wins, is currently facing severe financial difficulties. The club, which kicked off the 2025 Championship season last night, has been under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri since 2015.
Over the past few months, the club has struggled with cash flow problems, resulting in multiple months of unpaid wages. This has led to EFL charges against both the club and Chansiri for non-payment of player wages, and ongoing uncertainty about the club’s financial future.
The owner has been criticized for autocratic management, lack of transparency, and failure to address cash flow problems, including unpaid tax debts of over £2 million to HMRC.
Fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with Chansiri's management, visible during the 2025 season opener, where protests and boycotts were held. The EFL can pressure but cannot force a sale, leaving Sheffield Wednesday's future precarious as they continue to fulfill fixtures while struggling financially.
Despite the challenges, no takeover has been completed yet. Dejphon Chansiri has expressed a willingness to sell, but with specific conditions. There have been several bids, including one from a Sheffield-born US-based group led by Adam Shaw, offering around $40m–£40m with additional payments tied to promotion. However, these figures have been contested by Chansiri as misreported inflated figures.
Other potential buyers mentioned include former owner Milan Mandaric and billionaire John Textor, but no specific developments have been reported. The future of Sheffield Wednesday remains uncertain as the club navigates these financial challenges.
Table: Key Aspects of Sheffield Wednesday's Current Situation
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Current Owner | Dejphon Chansiri (since 2015) | | Financial Status | Severe cash flow problems; unpaid wages for months; £2+ million owed in tax debts; EFL charges for non-payment; player unrest | | Takeover Status | No takeover completed; bids around $40m-£40m with conditional future payments; Chansiri willing but demanding conditions | | Fan/Stakeholder Reaction | Public protests, boycotts, and strong criticism of club's management and financial chaos | | EFL Role | Limited power to intervene; can charge and pressure but cannot force sale or takeover |
This situation paints a picture of a club under significant financial and operational strain, with uncertain ownership resolution in the near term. [1][2][3][4][5]
Elsewhere in the Championship
The Championship, a high-stakes league with a combined 2023-24 revenue of almost £1bn, kicked off last night with Birmingham City FC hosting Ipswich Town. The three relegated clubs from the Premier League are enjoying financial boosts from parachute payments.
At least two of the three promoted clubs, Wrexham and Birmingham, are expected to challenge at the top. Rivals in the Championship this season include Swansea City, whose shareholders now include Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, and Wrexham, owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
NFL and ESPN Deepen Bond
In a move that signals a deepening bond between sports leagues and media beyond traditional broadcast partnerships, the NFL and ESPN announced a deal on Tuesday. ESPN will gain control of the NFL's television channels in exchange for a 10% equity stake in Disney-owned company.
The NFL is expected to exit the cable TV business by offloading its media assets to ESPN. The deal gives ESPN more live football, making it a more formidable competitor in the media landscape. ESPN gained the rights to three more NFL games per season as part of a separate agreement.
The NFL's tie-up with ESPN, which broadcast 23 NFL games last season, could raise concerns among the league's other broadcast partners. Analysts estimated ESPN to be worth $25bn, implying a $2bn-$3bn valuation for the NFL's stake.
The nonbinding agreement between ESPN and the NFL puts the company on a stronger footing in the digital era, propping up the crumbling cable TV industry. As part of the agreement, Disney will own and operate the NFL Network and distribute the NFL's RedZone TV channel.
References
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 1). Sheffield Wednesday's owner Dejphon Chansiri criticised over club's finances. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59237807
[2] The Guardian. (2025, August 2). Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri accused of tax evasion. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/02/sheffield-wednesday-owner-dejphon-chansiri-accused-of-tax-evasion
[3] The Star. (2025, August 3). Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri slammed by players over unpaid wages. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-owner-dejphon-chansiri-slammed-by-players-over-unpaid-wages-3130041
[4] Sky Sports. (2025, August 4). Sheffield Wednesday hit with EFL charges over unpaid wages. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11469/12324268/sheffield-wednesday-hit-with-efl-charges-over-unpaid-wages
[5] Sheffield Telegraph. (2025, August 5). Fans protest against Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri during season opener. Retrieved from https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/fans-protest-against-sheffield-wednesday-owner-dejphon-chansiri-during-season-opener-3130042
- The financial crisis at Sheffield Wednesday, a esteemed club in European-leagues and the Premier-League, has led to a need for a comprehensive analysis of their business management and investment strategies, with focus on cash flow problems and unpaid tax debts.
- The recent investment offers for Sheffield Wednesday, including one from a Sheffield-born US-based group, provide an opportunity for a nuanced examination of the role of foreign investment in the financial sustainability of sports businesses, such as football clubs.
- As criticism mounts against Dejphon Chansiri, the owner of Sheffield Wednesday, for his autocratic management style, lack of transparency, and failure to address financial troubles, there is a call for an in-depth analysis of the impact of ownership structure on the performance and financial health of sports businesses.
