Dejphon Chansiri nightmare could soon be over for Sheffield Wednesday - one factor should offer hope | OneFootball

It has been a tough few months for Sheffield Wednesday, but supporters should be hopeful that their ownership nightmare could soon come to an end.

As owner Dejphon Chansiri clings on to power, Sheffield Wednesday supporters could be forgiven for losing hope that a takeover will be completed.

It has been a nightmare few months for Wednesday, and amid a summer that saw the club plunged into crisis as their financial issues mounted, they lost a host of key players, including the likes of Anthony Musaba, Djeidi Gassama, Josh Windass and Michael Smith among others.

With manager Henrik Pedersen having a threadbare squad to work with, this season has been a struggle so far for the Owls, and they currently sit second bottom of the Championship table with just six points to their name, but perhaps more alarmingly for supporters, their off-field problems have continued into the new campaign.

Wednesday are already banned from paying transfer fees for the next three windows, but they are also currently under six separate transfer embargoes, with the latest being added this week after Chansiri again failed to pay the wages of players and staff on time for September.

As the extent of Chansiri's money woes becomes clear, Owls supporters are stepping up protest action in an attempt to put further pressure on their under-fire owner to sell, and they are planning a full boycott of the game against Middlesbrough at Hillsborough later this month.

John Textor, Mike Ashley talk offers small glimmer of hope of Sheffield Wednesday takeover

After strong speculation over the summer, it is fair to say that talk of a potential takeover at Wednesday has gone quiet in recent weeks, but it does appear that there are still a few parties interested in buying the club.

Former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor confirmed this week that he remains keen to secure a deal for the Owls, and he admitted that he has been "pleased" by the "open-mindedness" Chansiri has shown during their discussions, but the American also insisted that it has been "a bit overstated in terms of the extent we’re involved", which suggests an agreement is not close at this stage.

Two new names have also entered the frame in recent days, with journalist Alan Biggs claiming that ex-Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is one of those currently monitoring the situation at Hillsborough, along with businessman David Richards, who is a Wednesday supporter.

The fact that credible candidates are still interested in purchasing the Owls certainly offers a glimmer of hope to supporters, but it is believed that Chansiri is instead seeking investment in the club rather than a full sale, and in any case, his reported £100 million valuation would likely be a stumbling block for most suitors.

With that context in mind, it is difficult to see a takeover deal being reached any time soon, but there is still a chance that Chansiri may not be in charge at Wednesday for too much longer, and the end of his reign could be closer than many believe.

Unfortunately, cases of bad ownership like the one currently being seen at Wednesday have been an all too common occurrence in recent times, and in response to that, an Independent Football Regulator has been set up in order to avoid such scenarios happening in the future.

As the regulator prepares to come into effect later this year, key appointments are being made to the new governing body, and after being named as chair earlier this week, David Kogan made it clear that the Owls are one of the clubs in his sights.

"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL (English Football League) and a significant problem for football," Kogan told BBC Sport.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.

"We're now looking to get powers which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs - referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."

Kogan also expressed his "sympathy" for Wednesday supporters, and, crucially, he confirmed that the regulator would be willing to force an owner to sell a club if they deemed them to be unsuitable, although he stressed that it would only be as a "last resort" option.

While it remains to be seen exactly how much power the regulator will have and how effective they will be, Kogan's comments do suggest that he would be prepared to take tough action against Chansiri if he feels there is a need to do so, which should be hugely encouraging for the long-suffering Owls faithful.

With some still unsure about the introduction of the regulator, there would be no better way for them to prove their worth by immediately stepping in and saving one of English football's most historic clubs, and while Kogan stopped short of confirming he would intervene at Wednesday, his words certainly show that he is aware of the severity of the situation.

Of course, takeovers can often be a lengthy and complicated process, as Reading supporters will no doubt attest to after their recent nightmare under Dai Yongge, and there could be further pain to come for Owls supporters over the coming months, but the arrival of the regulator is the biggest indication yet that Chansiri will not be allowed to get away with his destruction of the club for much longer.