Dejphon Chansiri has rejected an offer to buy Sheffield Wednesday from a US-based consortium, The Star can reveal.
A bid from what The Star describes as ‘a Florida-based consortium made up of a combination of successful business executives and professional athletes’ is believed to have been forwarded to the club ahead of the Easter weekend but was rejected.
Following a request for comment, a Sheffield Wednesday spokeswoman stated: “We can confirm that an expression of interest was received from US-based investors working with a past sponsor of the club. There was no proof of cash offered, nor was the identities of the investors disclosed, and the offer was insignificant.
“In addition, the prior sponsor still owes the club money for a commercial partnership.
“Based on all of the foregoing, the offer was denied. Mr Chansiri has established specific criteria for potential investors to follow, following which he will engage in further negotiations.”
While The Star understands that he did not lead the approach and does not lead the consortium, the Owls statement appears to imply the involvement of Adam Shaw, a Sheffield-raised businessman now based in Florida who has publicly expressed a desire to purchase Wednesday and has previously sponsored the club. Mr Shaw declined to comment prior to the Owls’ statement, stating that it was not suitable at this time.
The bid comes as Mr Chansiri is under increasing criticism from Wednesday fans, who protested in large numbers ahead of and during the club’s final home game of the season on Saturday against Portsmouth. Protests against the club’s ownership have gained traction as certain players and staff departed the club within hours of receiving a three-window EFL registration embargo for failing to pay their March salary.
The difficulty was explained as a result of cashflow troubles in Mr Chansiri’s personal business transactions, and when he spoke with The Star last month, the Thai billionaire couldn’t promise that similar problems would not occur again.
In an open letter to supporters published earlier this month in response to the late payments, the Owls chairman stated that he did not intend to sell the club but was willing to ‘pave the way’ for potential buyers ‘if there is someone out there better, more suitable, and has the potential to take care of our club’ and who could’move Sheffield Wednesday forward from a stronger position.’
The letter stated in part: “With any transaction, it must be done properly – not by one of my people requesting a bank statement, which is also false – but by lawyers, with proof of finances and a tangible offer.
“The word means more to me than the paper; there is no need for an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) or something like when trust may be readily shattered. I can confirm that there was no NDA in place when I purchased our club from Milan. The transaction was based on trust from beginning to end and behind the scenes, which is the proper and professional way to proceed.”
According to the minutes of Wednesday’s most recent meeting with the club’s Engagement Panel, he is willing to sign an NDA once trust has been established with any possible buyer or investor group.
As previously reported, The Star understands that other parties are also interested in purchasing Sheffield Wednesday. Any such official approaches are yet unknown.
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