Upset Sheffield Wednesday fans speak of emotional impact club crisis is having on them in a report by BBC Breakfast this week.
The feature highlights the dire situation at Sheffield Wednesday, currently facing financial and operational challenges.
Long-time supporter Bill, an 84-year-old season ticket holder, spoke of his frustration over the lack of communication regarding the unsafe North Stand, where he sits in the disabled section. Other supporters have been left disheartened, with many feeling the club’s future is uncertain.
The team starts the season with only 15 senior players, unpaid for July, unable to spend on transfers, and expecting a points deduction.
The North Stand, which sees owner Chansiri’s name emblazoned across it, has been deemed unsafe by Sheffield Council, symbolising the club’s decline.
Thai businessman Chansiri, who bought the club in 2015, is criticised for mismanagement despite initial optimism. Fans urge him to sell, believing new ownership is essential for the club’s survival.
Sheffield Wednesday is a vital part of the local community, with fans like one who lost his father at Hillsborough in 2016, making clear the club’s role in family traditions, now threatened by the current “toxic” atmosphere.
The report also mentioned of the similar struggles at Morecambe and the need for a shift in how club owners view their role as custodians.
A new independent football regulator is mentioned, which could force owners to sell in extreme cases to save clubs, though concerns remain about finding buyers for struggling clubs with significant debts.
Across the country, fans often step in to raise funds to protect their clubs, highlighting their commitment to preserving these community institutions for future generations.
The feature underscores the emotional and cultural significance of Sheffield Wednesday, the uncertainty surrounding its future, and the broader challenges facing football clubs under poor ownership.
BBC Breakfast ran a feature on Sheffield Wednesday today. One of the people spoken to is Bill, an 84-year-old Owls supporter who called us last week because he was upset about a lack of communication over the situation with the North Stand. His emotion here says it all. #SWFC pic.twitter.com/mRt6k1edjZ
— Rob Staton (@robstaton) August 6, 2025
Fans can be heard saying: “Have we got a club? That’s the problem. I mean, I don’t know. There’s normally so much joy and pleasure and all there is at the minute is heartache. It’s a disaster, disaster for everybody. We’re all struggling I think as a fan base and we need the chairman to see sense.”
One fan said: When Chansiri took over, was a lot of hope and optimism. He spent a lot of money, perhaps spent too much money, but having people at the club who can help you run it were just not things that Chansiri ever really took seriously. Really the only seeming future for the club is for him to sell to somebody who can take this forward because Sheffield Wednesday just can’t go on existing like they are right now.
Another added: “Summer time is usually a time of excitement ahead of the new season, who are going to be signing, when are the fixtures coming out, and I think we got to a point when fixtures were coming out and
“There was no real interest there because all we were wondering is, is there going to be a club to go and support? Well, nobody actually knows what’s happening because the chairman’s not told us a single thing.
“Sheffield Wednesday is one big family. He claims to be a family man. Yet he can’t see that he’s destroying the biggest family of all. Where is he now?
“It’s the one constant in my life. Women came and went, but Sheffield Wednesday stayed. And for me, we have to show him that his time is up. We don’t want or need him anymore.
“I’ve had a lifetime of memories with my dad going to the football. Back in 2016, my dad actually collapsed on the cop and he died at Hillsborough. But since that, I’ve got a boy myself, Theo, who’s almost seven, and those memories I want to be able to pass on. Right now he’s obviously overlooked and said because of the toxicity, it’s not the atmosphere you would want to bring him into. And I’m desperate to give Theo what my dad gave me.
“The owner’s name, Chansiri, is emblazoned on the seats of what would be an empty stand that Sheffield Council have deemed is not safe. It’s not just the North Stand. If you go around any part of Hillsborough, this is a place that has seen better days.
“I’d like to think it’s going to change things, but I think more than anything we need a see change in thought of ownership. The owners need to, they are custodians, they hate that word, but they are custodians and they’re there to look after a club. The government can say they’re going to do things, time will tell. Am I confident? Not really, no.”
Bill, a season ticket is in that North Stand, sitting in the disabled section, has been coming to Hillsborough for 79 years. He was asked what have they told you about your ticket?
Bill replied: “Nothing. I’ve rung up. I rung up twice last week, twice this week. Just get music. I’m really fed up. I get really low, really down. I’m sorry but, yeah, it’s my life. Always has been. Anybody that knows me knows. That’s all I am, all Wednesday.”
LATEST CLUB STATEMENT:
The club wishes to update our supporters on the progress regarding the lifting of the Prohibition Notice issued by Sheffield City Council (SCC) on the North Stand at Hillsborough.
We continue to work closely with our professional advisors and contractors to ensure the North Stand can safely operate as usual from the first game of the new season.
To provide the necessary assurances, a schedule of works is currently being finalised. Our priority is to avoid relocating supporters for upcoming fixtures wherever possible.
At the June Safety Advisory Group (SAG) meeting, the club committed to undertaking the necessary works.
In addition, we agreed to conduct additional roof surveys ahead of the start of these works which were undertaken in mid-July.
Preliminary work has also been undertaken over the past week, carried out by a specialist team to prepare for the next phase.
The club can reassure our supporters that the North Stand has previously received letters of comfort from safety professionals to the end of last season – together with a Safety Certificate from SCC – affirming that safety has not been and never will be compromised.
However, to secure updated assurances, a plan for these works must be approved to satisfy the requirements of the SAG, a commitment we made in June and remain fully dedicated to delivering.
While we remain hopeful that all necessary steps can be completed ahead of the first home game of the season, contingency plans are being prepared in case this target cannot be achieved.
These include:
– The erection of a temporary access platform on the West Stand along with designated accessible entrance for wheelchair users if relocation is necessary
– Ensuring that North Stand Season Ticket holders have a method online to select alternative seats for any affected matches as simply as possible
– Should it become evident that the North Stand cannot open for the first match against Stoke City on 16 August, these measures will be implemented swiftly but we will try our utmost to ensure the Prohibition Notice is removed rather than having to relocate supporters.
To avoid any additional confusion, the club have held back on issuing North Stand Season Tickets until the picture becomes absolutely clear. We fully understand that the start of the season is growing ever closer and will communicate further updates as soon as is possible.
In the meantime, we apologise sincerely for the uncertainty this situation has caused and thank everyone affected for your patience and understanding.
The club wishes to update our supporters on the progress regarding the lifting of the Prohibition Notice issued by Sheffield City Council on the North Stand at Hillsborough.#swfc
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) August 6, 2025
Here’s how Twitter users reacted as upset Sheffield Wednesday fans speak of the emotional impact club crisis is having on them…
@robertfieldsend: Gotta feel for the Wednesday fans. Their club means everything to them, just like the Spireites mean everything to us. Hopefully, this can be sorted. Everyone just wants their club to be run as if owed by a fan. It’s the life blood of an area.
@Reece1867C: @swfc CHANSIRI OUT! WE WANT OUR WEDNESDAY BACK! The man of the moment mr Barry Bannan a hero he’s brought some positive back WEVE GOT BARRY BANNAN💙🤍 @bazzabannan25 @ChloeBannan
@murray1867: Heartbreakingly brilliant coverage
@callyowl: Great to see, the pressure is ramping up WAWAW 🦉🦉🦉
@teddyatswfc: As much as I tell myself I’m past caring, the 1st 5 minutes of that pulls on the heartstrings, sad state hoping after missing Sunday time Wrexham comes round I’ll a beefed myself up to make a few with the kids and the mates. But it will only be away from home that’s for sure.
@shauncannister: Chansiri won’t give a fuck.. its a disgrace that he’s not spoken since April…
@cot1980: Fans just want an owner with a plan, it’s not just about throwing money at transfers. We want an owner that has a delegated team sorting the Infrastructure off field.
@nffc_rob: It’s an absolute disgrace what’s happening to Sheffield Wednesday. To the owners this is just an asset, but to the fans their club everything
@dickyowl: I don’t mind admitting I cried along listening to Bill. These are just fans with no agenda other than they want their Wednesday back! But class comment from @GazRobinson1 “the women come and go but #swfc is always there”. Touché mate touché.
@LewisLegdon98: There’s always someone worse off. Some fans have a star striker who doesn’t then does want to play for them worth £150m apparently. Proper sad times. No there’s no one currently more worse off than Wednesday and Morecambe fans.
@NorthYorksOwls: This is a hard watch, our fans deserve better from the leadership at the club, I hope they watch this and are ashamed. No agenda. No ulterior motive. Just genuine fans speaking from the heart 💙💙💙💙
@k3zz4x: 😢 1 man causing so much heartache. Destroying memories, ruining the future of our club. He has to be stopped. Well done guys must have been difficult, certainly got me choked up hearing your stories 💙💙💙 #swfc
