MP calls for sale of club 'held hostage' by owner

An MP has called on the owner of Sheffield Wednesday to sell up after the club was charged by the English Football League with multiple failures to meet its payment obligations.

Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East, urged potential buyers for the Championship side to come forward, and accused current owner Dejphon Chansiri of holding the team "hostage".

Betts, a life-long Owls fan, said: "He must accept that he needs to sell Wednesday to prevent the complete collapse of the club … we as fans deserve better."

The club said it was aiming to pay staff and players their May wages at "the earliest possible opportunity", adding that Mr Chansiri "sincerely apologised" to those affected.

It is the second time in recent months the club has failed to pay wages on time.

As well as charges brought against the club, Mr Chansiri has also been charged with "causing the club to be in breach of EFL Regulations despite his commitment to fund their cash requirements".

Betts described the Thai businessman's behaviour as "appalling".

"It breaks my heart to see the club I have followed all my life being held hostage by an owner who clearly has no interest or care for us," he said.

"It is clear that Chansiri does not have the ability or resources to fund and invest in Sheffield Wednesday."

The MP has supported the proposed Football Governance Bill, which would form an independent regulator responsible for licensing clubs in the top five divisions and making sure their "custodians are suitable".

Pressure is understandably and increasingly growing on Dejphon Chansiri to sell Sheffield Wednesday.

There have been many concerns raised during his time in charge at Hillsborough, but his inability to pay wages for a second time in three months, in particular to non-football staff members, has led to EFL charges and serious concerns over the short, medium and long-term future of the club.

There have been reports about the Owls owner approaching business associates to raise funds, there are also reports that rising academy star Caelan-Kole Cadamateri is set to be sold, presumably to aid Mr Chansiri's significant cash-flow issues.

A US-based consortium has told BBC Sheffield this week that they've had two bids to buy the club rejected.

Last season ended with unprecedented fan protests and the SWFC Supporters' Trust is hosting a fans forum on 11 June to enforce their message that 'Enough is Enough'.

We don't know yet what the EFL charges will mean for both Dejphon Chansiri and Sheffield Wednesday as a whole – they have 14 days to respond – but currently, it's Mr Chansiri's football club and is solely in his hands, irrespective of who or how many people want him to sell.

First and foremost though, the club's employees need their May wages, as Mr Chansiri's apology won't pay their bills.

Responding to the charges on Tuesday, Sheffield Wednesday said: "The club continue to seek a resolution regarding outstanding salaries due for the month of May at the earliest possible opportunity.

"Mr Chansiri sincerely apologises to all players, coaches and staff affected and everyone connected with the club."

Mr Chansiri has been in charge of the Hillsborough side for 10 years and his tenure has been littered with financial issues.

Wednesday were placed under a registration embargo in both 2023-24 and 24-25 seasons and were deducted six points in 20-21, a season where they were relegated from the second tier, for breaching spending rules.

They finished 12th in the Championship last season in their second season back after winning promotion from League One.

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