Sheffield Wednesday handed fresh Dejphon Chansiri update as finance expert speaks out

Dejphon Chansiri’s controversial decade-long spell as Sheffield Wednesday owner came to an end in October 2025 after the club’s financial problems reached breaking point. Unpaid player wages, significant tax liabilities and poor financial management eventually pushed the Owls into administration.

The club then endured a six-month search for new ownership, with an earlier takeover attempt falling through before American investment group Arise Capital Partners, headed by David Storch, became the preferred bidder.

Storch’s consortium completed its purchase of Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough Stadium in May 2026. The new owners also secured an agreement with the EFL to waive an additional 15-point deduction, bringing an end to Chansiri’s troubled association with the club.

However, another development involving the former Owls chairman has now emerged, and it is likely to attract considerable attention from Wednesday supporters.

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Chansiri comes from one of Thailand’s most affluent business families, with much of the family’s wealth connected to Thai Union Group, recognised as the world’s largest canned tuna producer.

Although he never occupied an executive position within the company, Chansiri pursued several business interests of his own, including property development, construction and shipping. However, many of these ventures reportedly struggled to deliver substantial profits.

According to the BBC, Chansiri made an ambitious promise when he purchased Sheffield Wednesday in 2015, suggesting the club could reach the Premier League within two years.

He initially funded significant transfer expenditure through loans provided personally to the club, while also turning to outside lenders. Some of the borrowing was secured against Hillsborough Stadium.

Despite coming close to promotion through successive play-off campaigns, Wednesday’s spending eventually created serious financial difficulties. The club encountered Financial Fair Play problems, suffered points deductions and ultimately dropped down the divisions.

A lack of consistent revenue made the situation increasingly difficult to manage. Chansiri’s reliance on borrowing and director’s loans became unsustainable, with outstanding tax bills and unpaid wages contributing to the financial crisis that eventually resulted in administration.