3 issues new Sheffield Wednesday owners must fix ASAP after Dejphon Chansiri turmoil | OneFootball

Multiple parties are reportedly interested in the Owls

With Sheffield Wednesday on the market and a number of interested parties circling - including links from the UK, USA, and Monaco - the club stands at a pivotal juncture.

Reports published on Thursday morning from The Sheffield Star suggest that a sale could move quickly, with mounting financial pressure and widespread discontent forcing the issue.

Under Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership, Wednesday have experienced instability on and off the pitch. A series of managerial changes, repeated breaches of financial regulations, and a breakdown in communication with supporters have all contributed to a toxic environment.

The Owls are currently subject to a triple transfer embargo, and several senior players have issued formal notices over unpaid wages.

In this context, any incoming owner will inherit a club in urgent need of reform - the following three areas require immediate attention.

3 Stabilise the Owls’ threadbare squad and avoid sporting freefall

The first and most immediate challenge lies on the pitch. At the time of writing, only 17 senior players remain under contract.

If widely reported moves for Djeidi Gassama to Rangers and Anthony Musaba to Turkish outfit Rizespor are completed, that number falls further. Captain Barry Bannan, while pictured in training, is technically a free agent and yet to formally re-sign.

This situation is compounded by the Owls' transfer embargo, which, pending the outcome of an appeal, is set to span three windows.

Recruitment opportunities will therefore be severely restricted, making it all the more critical to retain key personnel and focus on pragmatic, targeted additions within the constraints allowed.

The scale of the challenge cannot be overstated. Despite a respectable 12th-place finish in the Championship last season, Wednesday face the very real prospect of regression unless the squad is rapidly stabilised and placed under competent management.

The Owls have fought to be promoted to - and remain in - the Championship in recent history and so the priority must no longer be growth - it is survival.

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The breakdown in trust between the club and its supporters is arguably one of the defining failures of Chansiri’s tenure.

Wednesday fans have endured years of erratic communication, opaque decision-making, and disregard for legitimate concerns.

While forums with the chairman have at times lasted several hours, they have frequently produced little in the way of clarity or actionable outcomes. Instead, supporters have been left to interpret sporadic open letters and statements published on the club website at the owner’s discretion.

This approach has fostered a culture of confusion and detachment. For a club of Wednesday’s stature and history, the absence of a coherent engagement strategy is unacceptable.

Rebuilding trust will require more than symbolic gestures. New owners must commit to structured, transparent engagement with the fanbase.

Restoring confidence will take time, but it begins with consistency, accountability, and a clear demonstration that supporters’ voices are integral to the club’s future direction.

What’s more, a coherent, motivated fanbase may be the push the Owls need on the pitch in what is set to be a long, arduous season.

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Perhaps the most critical deficiency at Wednesday is the absence of a professional footballing and executive structure.

At present, the club does not have a functioning board of directors, a breach of basic EFL governance standards.

There is no sporting director, no defined senior executive team, and no formal chain of decision-making. Instead, all strategic decisions have flowed through the chairman and a close circle of informal, often anonymous advisors.

This model is not only outdated, it is inherently unstable. A modern football club cannot operate effectively without clearly defined roles, professional oversight, and a long-term vision.

Any incoming Wednesday ownership must move quickly to appoint a qualified board of directors, install a chief executive with operational experience and recruit a sporting director to lead football strategy.

These are not optional additions - they are essential foundations. Without them, the Owls will continue to drift, unable to plan beyond the next transfer window or managerial appointment.