In 2015, Dejphon Chansiri completed his acquisition of Sheffield Wednesday, following a £30 million agreement with then-owner Milan Mandaric. At the time, the Owls were in their third consecutive season in the Championship, having earned promotion from League One back in 2012. According to The Guardian, the Thai businessman aimed to lead the Yorkshire club back to the Premier League, a goal he set immediately after finalizing the purchase. However, a decade later, that ambition remains unfulfilled, with Sheffield Wednesday still outside the top tier of English football.
Chansiri’s early tenure offered real hope. Under the management of Carlos Carvalhal, whom he appointed in 2015, Wednesday finished sixth and fourth in successive seasons, 2015/16 and 2016/17, narrowly missing out on promotion through the play-offs. When he first took charge in January 2015, Chansiri shared his vision, drawing inspiration from his son, Att, to fuel his commitment to the club’s future. Acknowledging Sheffield Wednesday’s proud history and vast potential, he expressed excitement about building on the foundation laid by Mandaric. Speaking to The Guardian, Chansiri promised to work tirelessly to deliver the success that the club’s passionate supporters craved. He also praised Mandaric for his leadership during a difficult period and welcomed his continued support in an advisory role.
Chansiri’s early impact at Hillsborough was largely positive. His decision to appoint Carvalhal proved to be a masterstroke, with the Portuguese manager guiding the club from a 13th-place finish the previous season to the play-offs in his first year. Although they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Hull City in the 2016 play-off final, the Owls remained strong, finishing fourth the following season. Yet another play-off setback, this time against Huddersfield Town, marked the beginning of a downturn. Carvalhal eventually left, and Wednesday struggled to replicate their earlier success, ultimately slipping to 15th the following season.
Since then, Sheffield Wednesday have not managed to reclaim their previous standing. The club’s fortunes worsened, culminating in relegation to League One in 2021. Although there was a painful play-off defeat in 2022, Wednesday bounced back with promotion in 2023. Under manager Danny Rohl, the club narrowly avoided relegation in the 2024 season, finishing 20th. However, fresh concerns emerged in March 2025 when the BBC reported delays in player salary payments, fueling renewed speculation about potential changes in ownership at Hillsborough.
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