'Chansiri owes explanation to players and fans'
- Published
No words from the chairman.
It's more than two weeks since it emerged wages at Sheffield Wednesday hadn't been paid in full on time.
One 59-word statement, including an apology, has been issued since. That was 13 days ago. Mercifully, the non-playing staff, coaches and some players have now received their wages. Some players, however, are still waiting.
Meanwhile, by Tuesday, the club and owner Dejphon Chansiri have to respond to their EFL charges over payment delays.
Chansiri has never been backwards in coming forwards in the past. Why is there silence now?
In September 2023, for example, he issued a statement threatening not to put any more money into the club and said: "If you say you are the owner and I am the custodian, then show me how to be the good owner and help save your club."
He followed that up with: "If you want me to leave, then show me how to run the club and invest the money before I do that. You have no right to ask me to leave."
The truth is Chansiri, like every other chairman, is a custodian, as much as he doesn't like that description.
He owes it to the fans, staff and players to front up and explain what is happening.
Will wages be paid on time and in full for June? How does he plan to keep things going financially? Is he prepared now to sell the club and, if so, what are his demands?
That final question might be the most important one.
A piece in the Sheffield Star at the end of last week quoted an anonymous intermediary who said: "What's been especially difficult is that I've had positive conversations with people that, at a reasonable valuation, would like to proceed.
"But for whatever reason, the representation from the club - be that the chairman or advisors - have got a figure in their head of double and beyond that realistic number."
Is this true? And if so, why?
On Tuesday night, we're doing a special programme on the future of Sheffield Wednesday which will be broadcast on the BBC Sport website. When we asked fans who they wanted to hear from, the overwhelming majority said the chairman.
Some also said they don't want to hear anything from the chairman other than he's off and he's sold the club. I get that. Yet while that remains not the case, isn't it time to say something?
The request has been made for the chairman to do an interview before Tuesday's programme.
This time, there shouldn't be bravado. Simply humility and a willingness to do what is right.
Let's go back to that statement in 2023: "I may not have been born here and I will probably not die here but one thing I can say is that I will always try to do my best for Wednesday."
What is best for Wednesday right now? Explaining the situation, providing clarity and - according to many fans - finding a buyer and selling at a reasonable price. If that isn't possible, tell us why.