Football League World
·17 luglio 2026
David Storch called 'magnificent' as Sheffield Wednesday icon slams Dejphon Chansiri

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·17 luglio 2026

Mel Sterland has had his say on David Storch after the new Sheffield Wednesday owner had a meeting with some club legends
The new ownership at Sheffield Wednesday have hit a lot of the right notes thus far, from eradicating points deductions, addressing off-field issues and bringing together some of the players who made the Owls what they are today.
David Storch and co have only officially been in situ at Hillsborough for around two-and-a-half months, but the time has flown by thus far, mainly due to the amount of work that has had to be done to get Sheffield Wednesday back on its feet ahead of the new season.
Indeed, the Owls were a club stripped of its identity almost in the latter stages of the Dejphon Chansiri era. Neglect off the field stopped Wednesday from progressing in terms of off-field facilities and ideas and roles at the top of the club, and that bled onto the pitch as well.
Since David Storch arrived, though, plenty of work has been done to ensure that the club can be competitive as they prepare for life back in League One.
Points deductions and transfer restrictions were eased, and board roles that Dejphon Chansiri didn't even utilise during his time at the helm, such as a sporting director, have been filled to ensure that Sheffield Wednesday has a bright future.
But that's not to say that the new ownership isn't ready to let go of the club's rich past, though.

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Sheffield-born Mel Sterland began his career with Sheffield Wednesday, playing with them for 11 years between 1978 and 1989, making 347 appearances and being part of the side who were promoted to the top flight in 1983/84.
However, emerging Wednesday fans during the Dejphon Chansiri era likely wouldn't have known who he and other Owls legends of the past were, as they were often ignored.
One of the first things that David Storch did as Wednesday owner was hold an event so that club legends could meet the new owners, as well as the new CEO, David Bruce, and sporting director, Simon Wilson, to learn their plans for the future at the club.
It was only a small gesture, but one that Sterland appreciated a lot, according to an interview with the Sheffield Star.
"I went to a meeting with a number of ex-players to see the chairman down there — what a guy," he said. "He came across absolutely magnificent, fantastic.
"The other owner who was there before was a complete waste of time. He let the players down. He let the fans down. He didn't do anything right for the football club. Every football club I've been to, I see ex-players around the ground talking to people. I don't know if he thought the ex-players wanted a job there or whatever, but he just disrespected everybody.
"This new owner's come in, and he loves the history of the football club, which is important. He loves the fans. He's getting proper players in. He's got proper people in. He's not just running the football club himself. It's all magnificent. It's great for the football club."
The 64-year-old definitely didn't hold back on the treatment of club legends from Chansiri, which will only magnify the disgust that Wednesday fans feel towards their former owner.
Now, Sheffield Wednesday is under ownership, which not only makes the likes of Sterland and other former players feel welcome back at Hillsborough, but also makes everyone else excited to come and support the club once more.

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Given the years of neglect that Sheffield Wednesday fans felt they had under Dejphon Chansiri, just having someone who ran the club normally would have made those fans feel like they were incredible.
As it is, David Storch is going above and beyond to get really ingrained in the culture and history of the club, which will only make fans feel more connected to the new ownership.
Storch has spoken in the past about how he found memorabilia in the chairman's office when he came to the club, and wants to make a 'history room' so that fans can see the history of the club more clearly.
David Hirst, who also spent over a decade at Hillsborough between 1986 and 1997, has been offered an ambassador role by Storch, and will host 'Hirsty's social' at Hillsborough ahead of games next season.
A lot has been done to endear Storch and co to the Sheffield Wednesday fanbase since they arrived at the club in early May, but you get the feeling that the new owners aren't just doing this for show - they truly care about the history of the famous South Yorkshire side.







































