Sheffield MPs have released a joint statement in support of Sheffield Wednesday fans’ ‘right to protest’ ahead of action at Hillsborough this weekend.
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has organized a protest against the ownership of club chairman Dejphon Chansiri. Fans will march from the city center to Hillsborough ahead of their final home game of the season against Portsmouth, with their final stretch taking place through Hillsborough Park towards the stadium.
Local MP Clive Betts, Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh, Gill Furniss, Abdisam Mohamed, and Marie Tidball, as well as former Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett, met with the Trust on Friday to discuss the club’s future, citing the ‘legitimate concerns’ of the fan base.
According to reports, Yuan Yang and Matt Rhodda, two Berkshire MPs, were also there after acting in recent months on behalf of Reading Crisis Club supporters. In recent weeks, Chansiri has come under increased pressure from fans after he told The Star that the club was just days away from facing a three-window EFL registration embargo for failing to pay the payers on time for the month of March because of cash flow problems in his personal businesses. He also failed to provide assurances that such incidents would not occur again.
“Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is an important part of our city’s culture and heritage, and we are determined to work with all involved to ensure the club endures,” said a statement issued Friday evening. We back the fans’ right to express their justifiable concerns and to demonstrate peacefully. In the end, they and we both want what’s best for their club.
“We have met with the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust as Sheffield MPs, and we are aware of their intense emotions and club loyalty. In order to ensure that productive and constructive discussions can be made to find a long-term solution to the current situation, we will be writing to the Chairman with the goal of improving communication channels.
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