Sheffield Wednesday players release a powerful letter expressing their concern after a tough decision ahead of the 2025/26 season.
They collectively have taken issue at the club’s lack of clarity amid a crisis involving unpaid wages and a cancelled friendly against Burnley, talk of potentially not playing in the league opener away at Leicester, especially with a depleted squad, having seen multiple player exits and no new signings, contributing to a troubled summer at Hillsborough.
A GoFundMe campaign and a letter to the EFL have been launched to protest Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri, amid a severe crisis.
The Owls faces unpaid wages for three months, an unsafe North Stand, a transfer embargo, only 15 senior players, manager Danny Röhl’s exit, and key players like Josh Windass and Michael Smith leaving for free.
The EFL may withhold funds to settle debts, a friendly match was canceled due to a player boycott, and the season opener against Leicester is at risk.
The Supporters’ Trust is organising protests, including a visible demonstration at the Leicester away game on Sky Sports and further actions at the home game against Stoke City, urging fans to display black and gold protest colours.
“We’ve made it clear to the club…”
Today I’ve been sent a letter, written by the Sheffield Wednesday players, in which they talk of being ‘extremely concerned’ by the #SWFC’s current situation, and show solidarity with everyone – on the pitch or not. https://t.co/v6cgVufb2Z
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) August 4, 2025
Anyone want the TL:DR version of the statement? #SWFC pic.twitter.com/bkhroTXXpW
— 1867News (@1867News) August 4, 2025
The statement from Sheffield Wednesday’s players is a strong one.
It voices their concerns, shows solidarity, reassures fans that they’re committed to the cause, and also implies that further action will be taken if needed.
“We can then all move forward together as a club.” pic.twitter.com/6St5t3zggL
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) August 4, 2025
PLAYERS’ STATEMENT:
“As has been well publicised, players, coaching and club staff groups at the club have all been impacted by delayed and overdue payment of salaries.
“This has been a worrying time for us as players but, whilst we are often the ones in the spotlight, we are not the only ones involved. We stand together in support with all our colleagues employed by the club who have been affected.
“Players and staff are now feeling real, practical impacts in their professional and personal lives and we are extremely concerned at the lack of clarity regarding what is happening and when this will be resolved.
“The decision taken by the players to withdraw from the planned friendly with Burnley was not taken lightly or without consideration. We are fully aware of the added concern this will have caused supporters but trust there is a real understanding of the difficult position we have been put in.
“We want to reassure fans that there has not been, and will not be, any ‘downing of tools’ by any of us on the training ground, and we are all working as hard as we can and supporting each other, the manager and staff.
“However, we, like you, want our focus to be fully on what happens on the pitch and the new season ahead. This is proving to be really challenging and we have made it clear to the club that we want this situation to be addressed as soon as possible so decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future. We can then all move forward together as a club. The Players.”
Sheffield Wednesday players release powerful letter expressing concern after tough decision
Here’s how fans reacted as Sheffield Wednesday players release a powerful letter expressing concern after making a tough decision…
@OwlSheffield: @bazzabannan25 @LiamJPalmer and others should make a statement they refuse to play first Lge game of season that will have a massive impact tbh @WTIDPOD @TWWcast @1867News @SWFCTrust fans would be behind it
@KBartholomew93: Hope they know fans are backing them to the hilt and aren’t against them in any way
@Michael11975155: 👏👏👏 Great reaction from the players👏👏, we’re right behind you
@joelgardiner__: 👏👏👏 You’ll be backed all the way lads
@WTIDPOD: Players have reassured fans that there’ll be no ‘downing of tools’ this season. It’s also a clear message to DC which implies, ‘pay us all or else we’re not playing against Leicester.’ Once again we stand in solidarity with players, staff and all those affected and back any decision that they decide to make. 👊
@stuartjoszko: Very professional statement from the players, shame the owner hasn’t the balls to show the same.
@Jacob97106277: Last few lines sounds to me like they’ll be more refusing to play if they aren’t paid. Well in lads
@CharlieeSWFC: Great statement – fully support this. 🦉
@adamtmilner: Fucking love it, fans are 100% behind the players and manager. Sell the club deji your time is up. #chansiriout #notapennymore #swfc
@ChrisEason84: Support this and any action they take. If they want to stand outside the ground or anywhere else, I’ll stand by and with them.
@growlers6: If that statement from the players says what I think it does then I’m in full support of a no show from the players & coaching staff on Sunday. All out strike on matchdays . 👏 👏 👏 #swfc let it be known they’ve had enough of Canceri #EnoughIsEnough
@cjdecorators: Fully behind all the players and staff on this statement. Time for clarity on the situation at #swfc from those at the top. The players staff and supporters deserve to know what’s going on at OUR club WAWAW 💙🤍💙🤍🦉
