Gareth, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, this week got in a passionate phone call on owner Dejphon Chansiri and the current club crisis.
He expressed deep frustration with the club’s owner, who he says is mismanaging and disrespecting the club as well as it’s supporters.
The Owls supporter recounts his long history with Sheffield Wednesday since 1968, highlighting his emotional connection and sacrifices.
But has been left heartbroken at the thought that his grandchildren might not have a club to support due to its financial struggles and poor management.
He also criticised the lack of maintenance at Hillsborough, and questions how to push the club toward administration to force change, suggesting fans stop buying merchandise or tickets to starve Chansiri of funds.
🗣️ “My grandkids are just getting into football and to think that there might not be a Sheffield Wednesday for them to go and watch, like I’ve watched for 57 years, breaks my heart.”
Owls fans, listen to this passionate call from Gareth👇#SWFC https://t.co/2AbC4tmWFN
— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) July 25, 2025
Rob: “Gareth’s a Wednesday fan. Hiya, Gareth.”
Gareth: Hiya, Rob. First point tonight is well done, Rob. Because tonight you’ve stopped me getting really angry because what’s been getting me really angry these last few weeks listening to the show is when people come on and talk of MR Chansiri.
“I think that man lost all what’s the word I’m looking for? I don’t think he should be called MR. He doesn’t deserve to be called MR anything. The man’s an absolute disgrace what he’s doing to my club and our club.
“If, they say you don’t have to laugh or cry, well, I was thinking the other day, the only grounding problem that we’ve had in the last few years down at Hillsborough has been a tree that was removed from the back of the Kop.
“And I’ll come back to the tree analogy in a minute. I just wanted to just give you a bit of background. I saw my first game in 1968, and of all places, it was in the North Stand.
“I believe it’s probably not the lick of paint on it since that day, although I’m sure he may have done it mid 90s, but there we go.
“And it makes you wonder how a metal girded stand can last all this time with all the weather without being painted. Even bridges and such like have to be painted to stop rust getting in, and it’s quite unbelievable that this has been allowed to happen.
“I’ve used to go home and away, when I was in my teens, in my 20s, in my 30s, I was having a family, and even then I kept going.
“I even gave up a career when I was about 18 because I could not stand working Saturdays, and that is true.
“And, because I used to like to watch my football team. And this lately has been, this is like crippling. I go from thinking I’m not bothered to I’m absolutely bothered.
“And it’s not always denying me or he could deny me. It’s always denying my grandkids. My grandkids are just getting into football. And to even think that there might not be a Sheffield Wednesday for them to watch like I’ve watched for the last 57 years breaks my heart.
“And whatever fans do is the right thing to do for them. Whatever they choose to individually, whether they buy shirts, don’t buy shirts.
“But, I just don’t know what your opinion is, Rob. But I think I was wondering what would happen if what’s the quickest way to administration? Would it be for nobody to buy anything at all from the shop? A ticket not to go in the ground, nothing. How long before he runs out of cash so that he can’t limp along?
“Because I think that’s the worst case scenario. I’d rather go into administration and have him limp along for another six months.”
Rob: “I suppose the difference between, it’s the working out the difference between going into administration and a winding up order. And for to go into administration, a creditor has to put Sheffield Wednesday into administration. And, you know, in this instance, that would be Chansiri, or, you know, unless unless you can work out a way of another creditor. And who is a creditor? You know, that’s a good question question in this instance.
“If he runs out of money, then you you can go into sort of winding up situations. But that could be you know, when you sort of talk about that, I think people think that, well, that just means the club goes out of business and doesn’t exist anymore. But getting to that point of seriousness could be, in some cases, a motivating factor to sell a football club.
“So it could sort of force a sale. So in that in that sense, it might if you want a club to be sold, it might not be the worst thing in the world. You’ve kinda got to go to the very brink before you find that solution.”
Gareth: “You’re making me, by saying that, I get what you’re saying, but you’re making me wish now you never paid me back the money you owed me in a season ticket, which I I had to really fight for to get back that season when there were no matches, if you remember, because of COVID.
“I would then be a creditor now, and I could start the ball rolling. I can’t unfortunately. Chansiri doesn’t owe me anything. So I can’t be the credit, and I wish somebody would do it. But, what I was also gonna say is, in general about football, it’s been going down the path for a long time, not just Wednesday.
“I’m falling out of love with the game because of the money involved, and I’ve been for a long time. And all this is down to money. And whichever way you look, when you hear about one player for £60million and none about a club not even being worth £60million, it’s crackers.
“And one big club one day will go to the wall, and I have I sincerely hope it’s not. It’s feeling like it might.
“And I’d just like to finish with this, mate, and it’s a bit of a well, I had a dream last night, by the way, and I’m not lying here. I really you only have a dream and you wake up, and it’s not true when you think, oh, god.
“Whether it’s within a lottery or somewhere. I actually did have a more specific dream that it was announced on the telly in a bulletin that we were being taken over by the Walton consortium who do the Denver Broncos. It was so clear. When I woke up this morning to find out that was a dream, I started to think, oh, no. And then I thought, well, let’s hope it’s a dream that’s led to a premonition.
“And bring it back to this tree business. It just sort of stood me a bit off the wall, but recently it’s been in the news. Another 160 odd year old, for what you wanna call it. We’re an institution, but, landmarking, if you like, was also destroyed these last couple of years in the north east.
“And that is now showing, albeit it’s gonna take a long time, it’s actually showing some green shoots of recovery from the stump. I just hope that this club shows some green shoots before too long. That’s all I wanted to submit.”
Rob: “Gareth, appreciate it. That was a call full of passion. So, don’t, be a stranger. Like, get back in touch with us again soon, and that’s another conversation.
“I think it’s interesting some of the points he’s made there. And, you have to hope that there is some green shoots. I mean, look, I know for a fact that there are people out there who are interested in buying Sheffield Wednesday, and there are people out there interested in buying Wednesday who’ve got some cash and have probably got half a plan on how you need to run a sports business.
“But it’s not as simple as that, is it, in this situation? It really isn’t. It we all know why. You know?
“And until the person running Sheffield Wednesday, gets to a point where he’s willing to do a, you know, a reasonable deal. You know, no one he doesn’t have to be fleeced. No one’s calling on that.
“But until he’s prepared to sort of do a deal for what the club’s actually worth, then, it’s sort of hard to offer any suggestions of those green shoots showing.
“And we’re really in the waiting game right now to see what’s gonna happen.
“But I do think that the clock is ticking somewhat. As a club or as of any kind of business, you can’t just keep going month to month wondering whether your staff’s gonna get paid, whether your players are gonna get paid, whether you’re gonna be able to pay the tax man, whether your bills are gonna be able to be paid on time. You just can’t that can’t go on forever. It just can’t.”
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