Dejphon Chansiri has just weeks to agree Sheffield Wednesday takeover after government promise
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has just weeks to agree a takeover deal after the government made a new promise.
Chansiri is under pressure to sell Sheffield Wednesday following the ongoing financial concerns at Hillsborough.
The Thai businessman, who took over the Owls from Milan Mandaric in 2015, is understood to be looking for around £100million to sanction a sale.
However, finance expert Dan Plumley told Football Insider Sheffield Wednesday are only worth around £70m.
The Championship side’s latest published accounts for 2023-24 revealed their overall turnover reached £26.3m.
Government figure shares Sheffield Wednesday concern
The Labour Party is currently fast-tracking secondary legislation to ensure the powers of the new independent football regulator will be switched on by November.
Finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider the regulator has the powers to remove bad owners.
That message was reiterated this week by culture secretary Lisa Nandy, who expressed her concerns around Sheffield Wednesday’s ownership situation and promised “change is coming”.
Speaking to the culture, media and sport committee on Wednesday (10 September), Nandy said: “The football regulator can intervene in order to remove an owner who is threatening the future of the club.
“In Sheffield Wednesday’s case, I am really extremely concerned about the current ownership and the lack of willingness to sell the club and invest in the club, something I’ve been discussing very closely with local MPs.
“The government is keeping a very close eye on it and our message to those owners is that change is coming.”
If the regulator is in place by November, that gives Chansiri around seven weeks to agree a takeover deal if he wants to avoid a battle with the powers that be.
Former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has been linked with a Sheffield Wednesday takeover alongside football financier Keith Harris.
The American billionaire owns majority stakes in French club Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek through Eagle Football Holdings.
Sheffield Wednesday lost multiple star players
Sheffield Wednesday lost multiple first-team stars in the summer transfer window due to the financial issues at Hillsborough.
Meanwhile, Danny Rohl left the Owls before the start of the new season, with his assistant Henrik Pedersen taking up the managerial duties.
Sheffield Wednesday have endured a difficult start to the campaign, having lost three of their opening four Championship games.
Pedersen’s side will face Bristol City at Hillsborough on Saturday (13 September), where they will be hoping to claim their first league victory of the season.
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