Sheffield Wednesday

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Sheffield Wednesday players might have been finally paid today but the further reputational damage to the club will linger.

This latest episode, along with controversial fans forums, late HMRC payments and other issues have definitely not gone unnoticed in football.

With Southampton parting with Ivan Juric today, it feels like a matter of when not if they make a move for Owls boss Danny Rohl. They won't be the only interested party. It seems inevitable the club will lose its biggest asset.

How many of the out of contract players will also be minded to move on after this?

Chairman Dejphon Chansiri bears complete responsibility and there are larger than ever calls for him to find a buyer and sell the club.

However, a growing passion for change among Wednesday fans online didn't translate to anger in the stands on Saturday. The reaction was meek, a couple of strangled chants calling for Chansiri to go. It feels clearer than ever that there simply isn't an appetite for protest at Hillsborough.

This isn't a modern thing.

Owls fans, by and large, are not protesters. There was more anger shown by Rotherham fans the week prior at now former boss Steve Evans than we saw at Chansiri at the weekend.

The 1867 Group, which has organised protests over the last 18 months, phoned our show to tell us they were often abused, spat at and one volunteer had a punch aimed in his direction. They say they had no choice but to give up.

We requested an interview with Chansiri but were told by the club he isn't doing any audio interviews.

These are some of the questions that fans want answers to:

The club sold early bird season tickets at Christmas, recently hosted a big crowd for the Steel City Derby and gave hospitality box holders a seven-day deadline to renew and pay to get a cheaper rate. How did the club not have sufficient funds to pay players and staff on time in March?

That has to be explained in more detail. The fans deserve answers because they're the ones being asked to pay for not only early season tickets, but also some of the highest ticket prices around.

If the club is now reliant on money coming into the chairman's other businesses to pay monthly salaries, what are these other businesses exactly? Do fans have a right to know if the sustainability of the club is reliant on them?

How long is it until the next cashflow issue? Is it a matter of time until the next problem? And if so, doesn't the chairman have a duty to look for alternative investors and/or new owners?

Who advises the chairman? We're constantly asked about Amadeu Paixao. What is his role, specifically, and how was he introduced to the chairman?

There are of course many more questions to be asked. This is a historic football club that is not being run properly.

Both Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday have left themselves with plenty of work to do to get to a play-off spot.

Rovers have yet to win under new boss Valerien Ismael and have lost their past five league games to see themselves eight points adrift of the top six, a spot they once held under former boss John Eustace.

Though Wednesday are in a similar predicament.

A difficult week ended with a third successive winless game on the weekend, putting them level on points with the Lancashire side but a place below on goal difference.

Both sides will have the opportunity to get closer to a chance at promotion when they meet on Tuesday (19:45 BST) - and maybe knock the other out of contention.

• After their 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, Blackburn are looking to complete their seventh ever league double over Sheffield Wednesday, and just their third post-war, after 1994-95 and 2019-20.

• Sheffield Wednesday won this exact fixture last season 3-1 but haven't won back-to-back league trips to Blackburn since October 1982.

• Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael has only lost one of his four previous managerial games against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship (W2 D1), going gown 1-2 with Barnsley in March 2021.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won nine away league games this season, last winning more in a single Championship campaign on the road in 2006-07 (10).

• Josh Windass has been directly involved in four goals in his last four league appearances against Blackburn for Sheffield Wednesday, scoring three and assisting one more.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said his side showed enough desire to beat Hull City, despite their 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Charlie Hughes scored a 94th-minute winner to ease the Tigers' Championship relegation fears.

But Rohl credited his players' effort in the game after they were not paid last week amid growing uncertainty at board level.

"Big credit to my team, to take this tough week, to stay here and go again, to fight again for our club," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It took time to come into it, but in the second half it was one direction.

"It's hard, but the key message for me is that this team has big, big character and big, big belief. A lot of players take all the setbacks again and again and it makes me very proud."

Rohl said he never doubted his players' motivation, but also admitted the club is not ready for the play-offs this season, as they sit eight points adrift of sixth place.

"The motivation comes from the inner circle, there's no question mark. The emotional level was there - they want to fight, they want to go and do everything, but you can understand what it means for this group," he added.

"It makes no sense to speak about the play-offs. We should be honest, and we're not ready for the play-offs.

"We did an outstanding job and felt we were always close, but in the second half of the season in all these tight games, we could have won maybe six home games, but we didn't."

Hull City visit Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 BST) as the look to avoid dropping into the bottom three.

The Tigers are only one point above the relegation line and were the only side in the bottom five not to have picked up points last time out after suffering a defeat to Luton.

But with financial problems plaguing the hosts this week, it would be doubly damaging if the Owls were to see their struggling Yorkshire rivals put a further dent into their dwindling dreams of promotion.

• Sheffield Wednesday are looking to complete their first league double over Hull City since beating them twice in 1990-91 under Ron Atkinson.

• Hull lost 3-1 at Hillsborough last season but haven't suffered consecutive league defeats away at Sheffield Wednesday since August 1972.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last three home league matches, losing each game by a one-goal margin. The Owls haven't lost four in a row at home since December 2012.

• Hull won 3-0 away at Sheffield United earlier this campaign but have never previously won away at both Sheffield clubs in a league season. The last side to beat both by three or more goals away from home in one season was Huddersfield Town in 1953-54 (6-3 at United, 4-1 at Wednesday).

• Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan has four assists in his last 10 Championship appearances and since 2015-16, only Jed Wallace (56) and John Swift (48) have more assists in the competition than the Scotsman (44).

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Rex Features

A growing number of fans are angry and demanding answers after it emerged that, not for the first time during Dejphon Chansiri's reign as Sheffield Wednesday owner, the players have not been paid on time.

Many are asking why the club sells season tickets in an early-bird window before Christmas, yet in March, there isn't enough money to even pay wages?

A statement claims it's down to "significant sums of money" being owed to Chansiri's other businesses, "impacting immediate cashflow".

However, you get the sense patience for a lot of people has run out.

The Owls were placed under a second registration embargo in 12 months by the EFL last November over amounts owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Now this.

How financially sustainable is this club? What exactly is the future of Sheffield Wednesday? These are questions that need to be answered with more than just a statement. Fans are worried and some will feel embarrassed. They deserve answers.

This latest admittance will lead to growing calls for Chansiri to sell the club.

The Owls might be five points off the play-offs but they lack the solid base that typically accompanies teams challenging for the top flight. Fans dream of a Premier League return after 25 years but it's not realistic in this environment. The club is a long way off in terms of infrastructure and finances.

It's the latest reason why a talented young manager in Danny Rohl, the club's greatest asset, may leave amid reported interest from elsewhere.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles made his Championship debut for the Owls during their 1-1 draw to Cardiff City at the weekend.

He replaced usual number one choice James Beadle, who was left on the bench for the trip across the border.

"It was quite nerve-racking stepping on to the pitch but also full of excitement," Charles told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It was a long time coming for me. I just needed to patiently wait and got my opportunity."

The change came as a surprise for many but boss Danny Rohl dismissed the idea Beadle had lost his spot in goal - though he did affirm Wednesday fans can expect to see more of Charles in his place.

"In every position, we have competition. It's normal," Rohl said.

"There is not one number one, we have two number ones now and they fight every week.

"They challenge each other and I think for us, it's also good to see how ready Pierce is. On the other side, James is also doing well.

"Both get the same chances."

Listen to the full post-match interviews and more on the Owls Heaven podcast

Cardiff City host Sheffield Wednesday as they look to keep clear of the relegation zone on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are only one point above 22nd placed Derby County, with the Rams on the charge with three successive wins.

Cardiff put an end to a three match losing streak last time out with a 2-1 victory over play off contenders Blackburn Rovers but will need to make it two in a row to secure safety.

• Cardiff City have won just one of their last six home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D4 L1), though that sole victory did come in this exact fixture last season with a 2-1 success.

• Since the start of 2008, Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their 18 away league games against sides from Wales (D7 L9), though the Owls did win on their last visit in a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in February.

• Cardiff have lost six of their last eight league games against sides from Yorkshire (W1 D1), conceding 24 goals in total during those matches.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last two away league games whilst scoring 3+ goals in the process; the Owls' last won more in succession while netting 3+ times in each back in December 2004 in the third tier.

• Sheffield Wednesday have scored 53 goals across their 38 league games this season, last scoring more at this stage of a campaign in the second tier in 2015-16 (56).

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl felt his side deserved a point after they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United in the Steel City derby.

The Owls, who have now failed to score in the past five derbies between the two sides, remain six points off the top six with eight games to pay.

"Of course disappointed, we tried especially in the second half," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"In the end we deserved a point but in the end it looks like a mirror of our home performances.

"I think you saw in this game just how competitive we are. I couldn't see a difference from second in the table to us but the biggest wish for us was to give our fans a good result.

"Now it's all about recovery and we go again in our eight finals, they next opponents are not easy."

Rhian Brewster decided the game in the 64th minute, tapping in at the far post after Tyrese Campbell had skipped down the right flank before his low deflected cross found his team-mate.

"I think we have a three on two situation and even then we had a chance to defend it but this is exactly it in these moments," Rohl added.

"In the second half there was nothing from them, we had so many touches in their half but they unfortunately get the goal.

"This game described a lot about us this season, we had chances to win the game and the centre-back comes off with an injury."

The Steel City Derby is back on Sunday (12:30 GMT) as Sheffield Wednesday look to even the score with Sheffield United.

The Blades won the reverse fixture 1-0 in November and could see themselves rise to the top of the table if Leeds United don't claim victory on Saturday.

Alternatively, they may find themselves trying to return to the top two if Burnley are also successful on the weekend, while the Owls will be eyeing a chance to get closer to the play offs.

Wednesday are currently outside the top 10 but just five points away from sixth placed Coventry City.

• Sheffield Wednesday have failed to score in any of their last four league games against Sheffield United with Lucas Joao the last player to score for the Owls against United back in September 2017.

• Sheffield United are looking to register a league double over rivals Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their last two home league games and haven't lost three in a row since losing their first three home games during the 2023-24 season.

• Sheffield United have won their last five away league games – the Blades are looking to win six in a row for only the second time in their history, doing so in 1892-93.

• Ben Brereton has scored six goals in his last 10 away Championship appearances across spells with Blackburn and Sheffield United. He's never scored against Sheffield Wednesday in seven games against them however.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan has urged his side "not to get caught up in the noise" in Sunday's Steel City derby against Sheffield United.

The veteran Scot, 35, has made 400 league appearances for the Owls and is winless in five matches against their city rivals.

Wednesday lost the reverse fixture 1-0 at Bramall Lane in November and have not beaten the Blades since February 2012.

"Both teams are dying to win and put everything on the line," he told BBC Radio Sheffield

"I think the most important thing is to stick to the game plan and not get caught up with the noise from outside and whoever does that best will come away with the points.

"People say it's just another game but's it's not, it means more to the people in Sheffield so we know what's at stake. Obviously the first game was a close one that they nicked in the end.

"We're back at our place now and we'll come out all guns blazing to try and win the game because it would be a massive three points for us to try and get where we're wanting to."

Wednesday come into the match in good form after recording back-to-back away wins at Plymouth last Saturday and Norwich on Tuesday.

The Owls stayed down south between the two matches and Bannan brought the group into a huddle on the pitch after coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

He believes this could be a "pivotal" week as Danny Rohl's men, who are now five points off the top six, look to get back in play-off contention with nine games to go.

"We'd dropped eight points off the play-offs so we knew it was two massive games before the derby on Sunday that we had to concentrate on.

"We stayed down there away from families and it was a lot of travelling but it was worth it now because we came away with maximum points and that sets us up.

"When you get these kind of trips you become closer as a group and I think it was a pivotal moment in the season to come back from 2-0 down at Norwich.

"I told them I was proud of them and how they had conducted themselves and I just wanted to thank them for their efforts."