Sheffield Wednesday fans protest at Thai embassy

Fans said they were "dismayed" at Dejphon Chansiri's "gross mismanagement" of Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday fans have staged a demonstration outside the Thai embassy in London in protest at owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Supporters are calling for the Thai businessman to sell the club amid a host of ongoing financial issues at the Championship side.

Alan Burgess from the The London Owls accused Mr Chansiri of "gross mismanagement" and said the protest was his group's "small contribution to what we hope will be a much bigger and wider-scale series of events, that will eventually get him out of our club".

Mr Chansiri has not responded to the BBC's request for a comment.

Ian Bennett, chair of the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust, said the location for the protest was aimed at raising awareness of the issue in Thailand and among the Thai community.

"The turnout is fantastic. The London lads have organised it and we brought our little contingent down," he said.

He said Mr Chansiri was "dragging the community, and everyone, down with him".

Banners have been unfurled at Hillsborough, along with the adoption of new colours - "black and gold until we're sold".

The club's financial issues - including late payments to HM Revenue & Customs, a failure to pay transfer fees to other clubs, and delayed salary payments to staff and players - are currently subject to an English Football League (EFL) investigation.

In recent weeks fans have taken part in a series of protests and boycotts in an effort to damage Mr Chansiri's income from the club and force him to sell up.

Less than 8,000 fans attended the club's surprise victory over Leeds at Hillsborough last month week, despite the club dropping ticket prices to £15.

Last season, about 20,000 more fans attended a home fixture against the same opponents.

Dandra Talton, from London Owls, said the demonstration at the embassy was the first she had ever attended.

Her dad first took her to Hillsborough as a child in 1962, meaning Wednesday was "in her blood", she said.

"I had to be here. What he's doing to my club is despicable," she added.

Mr Chansiri's time in post has seen Wednesday lose almost £200m.

He has previously admitted having turned down two offers to sell the club, worth £40m and £30m, saying he was "willing to sell, but the deal must be correct on all fronts".

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