The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust has declared that “real change is within our grasp” following the club’s entry into administration. After a long “phase of resistance” against owner Dejphon Chansiri, the trust is now urging fans to begin a “phase of renewal.”
The administration, filed by Chansiri, ends his tenure but comes with a 12-point penalty, leaving the Owls on -6 points. Fans, who are “overjoyed” at Chansiri’s exit, are now being asked to end their boycotts and “rebuild from the ground up.”
“Every ticket bought, every shirt worn, every pie and pint enjoyed in Hillsborough helps the club rebuild,” the trust’s statement read. Thousands of fans who boycotted the midweek game are now expected to return on Saturday.
The club’s financial situation is dire, with $pounds{}$1 million owed to HMRC and a history of unpaid wages. Administrator Begbies Traynor is now in charge, seeking a “swift sale” of the club and stadium.
Manager Henrik Pedersen, who is not resigning himself to relegation despite the 15-point gap to safety, echoed the call for a new start. “We have to be a new Sheffield Wednesday with an old heart,” he said.
