A Statement to Sheffield Wednesday Fans:

Dejphon Chansiri club statement


“I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly.“



Hello to all Sheffield Wednesday fans. I have thought about making this statement for some time and it is extremely difficult for me to do something that I never thought I would have to do. But in the end, I think it is the time to say some things that I feel I have to say before it is too late.

First of all, I would like to thank all the fans who have supported the club so well over the past nine years or so since I came to Sheffield Wednesday. There has been joy and sorrow, the joy we have shared together and in times of sorrow we have supported each other.

Right now, we are not in a good situation in the table and I believe that supporters have every right to voice opinions, speak from the heart and say anything you wish about the football. That is the nature of the game, which I always respect. But I also believe there are limits to balance for the benefits of the club and all other stakeholders as a whole.

Fans can complain, criticise, give strong opinions, balanced opinions, say anything you like. But no one has the right to cross the line or the right to try and cause damage, throw insults, or go to my family which has happened again, which I cannot accept. Right now, this is too much. I have always welcomed constructive debate and thought, which is fine, but to the people who have contacted me directly with insults, and to my family, I can tell you that I will never accept this.

The club has found ways to improve and make things better and develop as much as we can, in all areas. However, it is not possible for the club to do things alone. For example, some fans have said the ticket price is too high. I have explained this many times in forums. For example, the prices can be lower if we have enough guaranteed volume and that is a win-win situation, for the club and the fans. It is the same for the price of the shirts, exactly the same principle. The price can be lower if the sale volume is higher. We must look for solutions – it is no use thinking of just one side, we must think of and help each other. I lose a lot of money each year and we must try and balance as much as we can.

We have launched the Community Engagement Scheme for any fans who struggle to attend games and a number of supporters have taken advantage of this scheme. Unfortunately, for some who have historically not attended games, they have used the pricing structures to attack the club without the intention to attend themselves, even when prices have been lower.

Some fans say I am the custodian, not the owner. Who say they were born here and will die here. I may not have been born here and I will probably not die here but one thing I can say is that I will always try and do my best for Wednesday. Even though I have been involved for less than 10 years, that does not make my love for our club any higher or lower than anyone else. To those who are trying to create trouble damaging the club, I ask, what have you done that is good for your club, why are you trying to harm it? If I am such a bad owner, what are you doing on your side? We all love Sheffield Wednesday and I am a supporter as well as the owner who must love and care for the club more than anyone else because of the position I am in as chairman. I must take responsibility for everything at the club, including the financial support which is something I always do. But from now, I will not put additional money into the club. If you say you are the owner and I am the custodian, then show me how to be the good owner and help save your club. You want me to leave but you want me to spend money? If you want me to leave, then show me how to run the club and invest the money before I do that. You have no right to ask me to leave. I am the one who saved the club and spent the money for the club, I am the one who needs to pay around £2m on average every month. Some fans need to have more respect for owners of clubs and not be so selfish, thinking of their own benefit without doing anything good to the club. This is not acceptable and as a result I am not willing to inject more money while I am being treated unfairly by those fans.

The club needs support from everyone during difficult times. In football, there are good times and not so good times. It is easy to celebrate good times but we must support each other in difficult times.

I think at the moment, it is too much, with some people crossing the line. For example, as a club we have made many statements about the conduct of supporters, and those who have broken the regulations could lead to us receiving fines from the FA. Some clubs have been fined up to £100,000 for breaking the regulations and of course this is something we do not wish to see at Sheffield Wednesday. Coming onto the pitch at the end of the game against Peterborough, throwing objects onto the pitch against Middlesbrough, these situations can cost clubs a lot of money which again is my responsibility.

Regarding protests, I do not believe this can help our club. The people who are trying to organise these protests are not prepared to identify themselves, while they are happy to encourage other fans to show themselves, how can this help? Protests are a waste of time. I would like these fans to show me how much you love your club, do not damage it. I do not want to fight with anyone but to use your words - ‘enough is enough’. Please do not damage our own club, otherwise those fans need to take all responsibilities and liabilities.

I know there are people who wish for me to leave. I personally have never said a single word on my valuation of Sheffield Wednesday or how much I would want to sell Sheffield Wednesday for, because I have never considered selling. It is easy – someone come forward, and if I am satisfied that the club will better prosper, then we can talk. Some fans say there are many people wanting to buy football clubs but it is not just about money, it is about the right person or organisation who will take good care of the club.

There was speculation recently from an interested party but it was said I refused to talk about the sale of the club. This is not correct. It is simple, if you want to buy the club, show me the proof of funds and submit an offer in the professional way. I met this person as a sponsor and I did not know who he was representing but the same applies, show me the proof of funds and submit an offer. Neither of these two things happened and as a sponsor, his business was yet to pay the full amount for the sponsorship so how could I sell the club like this anyway?

If anyone wants to buy the club, they should act professionally and follow the correct process. All the information required is published in the accounts every year, there is nothing to hide. When I bought Sheffield Wednesday, would Milan have sold it to me if he was not satisfied with my offer? All I want and all I have ever wanted is the best for Sheffield Wednesday and if anyone wishes to invest and come and do a better job, then we can talk. Until that happens I will continue to try my best and focus on trying to help us move up the Championship table.

As I mentioned, I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly. Those fans who create trouble to the club and myself and believe that they are the real owner of the club need to be responsible for the financial matters of the club from now on. If they can take such financial responsibility to save the club and they believe that I am not the right owner, they may propose any buyer who I believe can operate the club for the benefit of all stakeholders going forward.

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I don't know what to make of this tbh. I get that he wants to put across the fact that he has put the money in and bought the club, and therefore has more of a say in how a club is run, but there are ways and means of doing things.

Let's use Leicester as an example.

I'm sure many Leicester fans were disappointed to get relegated last season but there was not the big kick off with supporters because the owner and their late owner Vichai took the trouble to regard supporters as their family.

If the Wednesday owner had done likewise I dare say he wouldn't have the problem he now faces. It's a case of getting supporters onside before a problem rather than divide and rule after the problem - and causing more of a problem.

Insulting anyone whether owner or supporter is not on. Nor is attacking families and I want to make that clear.

But neither is it right to come out and say you are not investing any more money. If you buy a club you have an obligation to pay ongoing bills and to come out with such a comment is extremely unfortunate.

Leicester, for me, is the shining example of how owners should treat their supporters and if more do so then there will be no need for these sort of statements.

Excuse my ignorance, are the protests just cos they're doing shit in the league?

I don't know what to make of this tbh. I get that he wants to put across the fact that he has put the money in and bought the club, and therefore has more of a say in how a club is run, but there are ways and means of doing things.

Let's use Leicester as an example.

I'm sure many Leicester fans were disappointed to get relegated last season but there was not the big kick off with supporters because the owner and their late owner Vichai took the trouble to regard supporters as their family.

If the Wednesday owner had done likewise I dare say he wouldn't have the problem he now faces. It's a case of getting supporters onside before a problem rather than divide and rule after the problem - and causing more of a problem.

Insulting anyone whether owner or supporter is not on. Nor is attacking families and I want to make that clear.

But neither is it right to come out and say you are not investing any more money. If you buy a club you have an obligation to pay ongoing bills and to come out with such a comment is extremely unfortunate.

Leicester, for me, is the shining example of how owners should treat their supporters and if more do so then there will be no need for these sort of statements.

Paul, I would read his comments as not investing to push on, rather than not “supporting” to pay the bills

I don't know what to make of this tbh. I get that he wants to put across the fact that he has put the money in and bought the club, and therefore has more of a say in how a club is run, but there are ways and means of doing things.

Let's use Leicester as an example.

I'm sure many Leicester fans were disappointed to get relegated last season but there was not the big kick off with supporters because the owner and their late owner Vichai took the trouble to regard supporters as their family.

If the Wednesday owner had done likewise I dare say he wouldn't have the problem he now faces. It's a case of getting supporters onside before a problem rather than divide and rule after the problem - and causing more of a problem.

Insulting anyone whether owner or supporter is not on. Nor is attacking families and I want to make that clear.

But neither is it right to come out and say you are not investing any more money. If you buy a club you have an obligation to pay ongoing bills and to come out with such a comment is extremely unfortunate.

Leicester, for me, is the shining example of how owners should treat their supporters and if more do so then there will be no need for these sort of statements.

Paul, I would read his comments as not investing to push on, rather than not “supporting” to pay the bills

Sounds strangely familar, doesn't it...?

Thankfully, things finally appear to be moving on...

Crazy owner.

They're on Sky tonight.

Will be interesting to see what sort of reaction there is from the fans.

Excuse my ignorance, are the protests just cos they're doing shit in the league?

Thats the main reason i suspect, like spoilt brats. You know what it's like. The owners a c**t from fan's if he's not spending millions and even if he did and they was doing shit in the league he's still a c**t. This Sheffield Wed owner has bailed them out massively in the past from past owners f**k ups and been abused for it so who can blame him id do the exact same. That's today's fan's thinking spend spend spend or they want that person or persons gone and the manager. Let the fans fund it if they think they know how to run a club. Endless pit of lost money football clubs for a bunch of over paid fannys kicking a bag of wind these days tbh.

Excuse my ignorance, are the protests just cos they're doing shit in the league?

Thats the main reason i suspect, like spoilt brats. You know what it's like. The owners a c**t from fan's if he's not spending millions and even if he did and they was doing shit in the league he's still a c**t. This Sheffield Wed owner has bailed them out massively in the past from past owners f**k ups and been abused for it so who can blame him id do the exact same. That's today's fan's thinking spend spend spend or they want that person or persons gone and the manager. Let the fans fund it if they think they know how to run a club. Endless pit of lost money football clubs for a bunch of over paid fannys kicking a bag of wind these days tbh.

Yeah. That's what I was thinking too.

'We're a big club we deserve better' type mongs.

Well 3 nil down already and fans up and leaving in their droves

Always liked Wednesday and it’s a shame they’re so poor. Seem to be where we were a few seasons back. They look miles off this division on tonight’s performance.

The OP was from Annis, and while we go a long way back, he knows that I disagree with his stand on Mr Tan.

This statement, by the owner of Wednesday, proves how frustrating it can be to run a football club......and all the millions you need to back it!!!!

Sri Vincent Tan probably feels likeminded......but hey ho, 3 wins on the bounce and it all looks a bit more rosey.

The bottom line is, be thankful for your football club, be grateful that we have a guy who can prop it up, still support when we are crap, but just give thanks that somebody is taking the financial hit and it is not YOU!

The OP was from Annis, and while we go a long way back, he knows that I disagree with his stand on Mr Tan.

This statement, by the owner of Wednesday, proves how frustrating it can be to run a football club......and all the millions you need to back it!!!!

Sri Vincent Tan probably feels likeminded......but hey ho, 3 wins on the bounce and it all looks a bit more rosey.

The bottom line is, be thankful for your football club, be grateful that we have a guy who can prop it up, still support when we are crap, but just give thanks that somebody is taking the financial hit and it is not YOU!

I do agree with this to some extent but I also think owners can do a lot more to help themselves. In my photography days I had the good fortune to meet Vichai and we all know the efforts him and his family have done to regard supporters as their extended family. Sam did the same here and then there was Jack at Blackburn and Dave Whelan at Wigan.

It's quite right that owners have the final say. It's their money and that should be respected. But supporters are not clients, like in other businesses, they are people who spend a huge portion of their life with one club, and deserve some form of engagement. If owners did this then, at bad times, the response would not be quite as bad

Another owner who knows nothing about football.

The OP was from Annis, and while we go a long way back, he knows that I disagree with his stand on Mr Tan.

This statement, by the owner of Wednesday, proves how frustrating it can be to run a football club......and all the millions you need to back it!!!!

Sri Vincent Tan probably feels likeminded......but hey ho, 3 wins on the bounce and it all looks a bit more rosey.

The bottom line is, be thankful for your football club, be grateful that we have a guy who can prop it up, still support when we are crap, but just give thanks that somebody is taking the financial hit and it is not YOU!

Good post.

Owners make mistakes like anybody else. Some more than others as we well know!

He’s right though and I see nothing wrong with putting out a statement like that when morons attack him and his family with personal insults.

Another owner who knows nothing about football.

Trouble is all the anonymous keyboard warriors like yourself who think they know all there is to know about a football club are to skint to put their money where their mouth is.

Imagine Tan withdrew funding due to criticism?

Things have gone from bad to worse after 2 supporters arrested last night for mocking Bradley Lowrey while at Sunderland yesterday