Sheffield Wednesday fans are expected to return “in their thousands” for Saturday’s game against Oxford, ending their boycott after owner Dejphon Chansiri’s exit. Chansiri placed the club into administration, a move that ousts him but hands the Owls a 12-point deduction.
Thousands of fans had stayed away from the midweek defeat to Middlesbrough in protest at Chansiri’s “financial mismanagement.” The Supporters Trust, which helped organise the protests, said the “phase of resistance” is now over and the “phase of renewal” must begin.
The “bittersweet” day leaves the club on -6 points, 15 points from safety, after the EFL applied the automatic penalty. The club’s collapse is linked to a $pounds{}$1 million tax bill and months of unpaid wages.
Administrator Begbies Traynor is now running the club and seeking a new owner. Manager Henrik Pedersen praised the “fantastic club” and its “old heart” and, against all odds, insisted he has “a big belief we can survive.”
The Supporters Trust is urging all fans to “re-engage,” stating the “club’s most urgent need is stability and income.” They added, “Now is the time to be Wednesday.”