Where Sheffield Wednesday Owner Dejphon Chansiri Now Stands With EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test
EFL Analysis can now exclusively reveal that Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri is under increased scrutiny from the English Football League following the club’s recent financial turmoil — most notably the failure to pay player and staff wages in May. This breach has not only triggered an EFL-imposed transfer embargo, but it has also raised fresh concerns around Chansiri’s compliance with the governing body’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
The EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test — designed to assess whether individuals in control of football clubs are ‘fit and proper’ — is currently under intense review in the case of Chansiri, following what the league describes as “material financial mismanagement.” Sources close to the EFL have confirmed that the Thai businessman’s position is now being re-evaluated to determine whether he remains suitable to control the South Yorkshire club.
Chansiri, who has owned Sheffield Wednesday since 2015, has been a divisive figure during his tenure, with several instances of financial instability casting long shadows over the club’s prospects. The most recent wage delay in May was not the first time Wednesday employees have been left unpaid — with a similar incident occurring in November 2023. But this latest breach appears to be a tipping point for the authorities.
The EFL has not formally announced whether it will take disciplinary action against Chansiri personally, but football governance experts suggest he could be forced to step back or relinquish control entirely if found in violation of the test. According to one source familiar with the process, “The repeated nature of the financial failures at Sheffield Wednesday means this isn’t just an administrative issue — it’s now being viewed as a systemic governance failure under his ownership.”
Meanwhile, Chansiri is understood to be cooperating with the league’s inquiries, and in a brief statement released earlier this week, he insisted that the situation “will be resolved internally and swiftly.” However, fans remain sceptical, with many calling for urgent reform and a change in ownership. Protests were staged outside Hillsborough earlier this month, with banners reading “Enough is Enough” and “Save Our Club.”
The embargo means that Wednesday will not be able to register new players without express permission from the EFL, putting manager Danny Röhl in a difficult position ahead of the summer transfer window. Röhl, who masterminded the club’s survival in the Championship last season, has reportedly asked for clarity on the situation before committing to key recruitment plans.
In the coming weeks, the EFL is expected to make a final determination on Chansiri’s status under the Owners’ and Directors’ Test. If he is found to have breached its terms, he could be disqualified from owning or directing a club — a rare but not unprecedented move.
Until then, uncertainty continues to hang over S6. For many supporters, it’s a defining moment that could shape the future of one of England’s oldest football institutions.
Read more on;https://www.sportupdates.co.uk

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