What Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones had said about Sheffield Wednesday as a club - Owls fans will really appreciate this | OneFootball

Concerns surrounding the Owls' immediate future as a club have only worsened this week

Nathan Jones has praised the loyal core of Sheffield Wednesday supporters who will make the lengthy trek to The Valley on Saturday afternoon as they face his Charlton Athletic side, with off-pitch concerns continuing to deepen this week in South Yorkshire.

Wednesdayites have always been known for their vociferous and unwavering support, regardless of their club's on-pitch predicament that, in recent times, has been far from a smooth ride as they have bounced between the Championship and League One ever since returning to the EFL in the summer of 2000.

The current situation at Hillsborough is, unarguably, the worst supporters are likely to have ever known, though, as they remain vocal in their discontent towards controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri, with a string of continuous and alarming developments leading to the club's very existence being under threat after the results of an independent investigation led by local publication - the Sheffield Star - and BBC Radio Sheffield came to light on Thursday afternoon.

As such, it was revealed that Wednesday are 'days away' from a winding-up petition being served by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with the aforementioned Chansiri still yet to pay an outstanding tax bill to the tune of £1m.

Several fan groups in the blue and white half of the Steel City have come up with multiple ways of bringing worldwide attention to Hillsborough in the opening weeks and months of the season, which has included boycotts of EFL Cup clashes against Leeds United and Grimsby Town, as well as an upcoming one against Middlesbrough when they return to home action next Wednesday.

However, with Saturday's trip to South London on the horizon, Henrik Pedersen and his threadbare squad will, once again, be backed by a sold-out travelling contingent in the Jimmy Seed Stand, which, in Jones' view, will only add to a remarkable atmosphere in SE7.

Charlton haven't been too far away from ownership controversy in the past decade or so themselves. However, things have certainly looked on the up at The Valley ever since SE7 Partners completed their takeover in July 2023.

The Welshman was installed in February 2024, and after embarking on an initially impressive run to steer the club away from the lower reaches of League One, the Addicks have been promoted at Wembley and are currently outperforming fellow promoted outfits in big-spending Birmingham City and Wrexham.

They can also emulate the 'Class of 2019' on Saturday if they record a 13th home win of the calendar year, whilst Wednesday could make it four unbeaten on their travels after emerging surprise 2-0 victors at Portsmouth last month, as well as earning 2-2 draws in North Wales and at St. Andrew's.

Despite sitting second-bottom ahead of their cross-city rivals, United, such spirited performances have come whilst Pedersen has a threadbare squad to work with due to a summer exodus of senior players, injury concerns, five transfer or registration-based embargoes and a transfer fee restriction until next year, leaving Ethan Horvath and Harry Amass as the only two summer incomings on loan from Cardiff City and Manchester United.

Despite the contrast in general moods which surround the respective outfits, Jones only had good words to say about those who will pack out the away end.

"If it’s like any of our home games in the last nine or 10 months then of course it’s going to be a good atmosphere," he said.

"Sheffield Wednesday fans always travel well. They’re an excellent football club, with good fans that can create a wonderful atmosphere, especially with what they’re going through. But it's a day where we're at home and we're looking forward to being at home after two away fixtures, and we have to maximise that."

Sheffield Wednesday supporters will back their players more than ever after fresh HMRC concerns

Saturday's encounter represents the first meeting between the two sides since February 2023, where the Owls secured a 1-0 success en route to a Wembley success of their own under Darren Moore in League One.

Owls supporters have, to varying levels of success, urged supporters of opposition clubs on their travels to partake in the 'Black and gold until it's sold' campaign fronted by the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust, which saw Leicester City supporters heap nothing but praise on the South Yorkshire fanbase who entered the King Power Stadium five minutes late on the opening day of the season in protest, as well as seeing Wrexham eventually revert their decision to decline and raise £37,500 to the fund.

Those in the away end on Saturday will certainly back their players more than ever after Thursday's developments, which has only added to the long list of worries regarding a potential takeover despite interest remaining from several high-profile figures such as John Textor and Mike Ashley.