The situation surrounding Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership of Sheffield Wednesday continues to intensify, as fans, politicians, and now corporate entities appear to distance themselves from the financial controversy engulfing the club.
On Wednesday, June 11th, the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust held a crucial meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis. The primary focus of the meeting was clear: to maintain consistent pressure on Mr. Chansiri in hopes of forcing meaningful change at Hillsborough. Supporters are determined not only to keep the issue alive within the UK media but also to ensure that the story receives ongoing attention in Thailand, where the Chansiri family and their business empire are based.
In recent days, that pressure seems to be having a significant impact. Earlier this week, John West Foods — owned by the Thai Union Group, which is in turn connected to the Chansiri family — issued a public statement on social media, clarifying:
“The Thai Union Group nor John West Foods have any financial interest in, or connection with, Sheffield Wednesday FC.”
This statement came as a direct response to growing speculation among fans and commentators who suspected that family-owned businesses may have been financially involved in supporting the club. Whether or not such links ever existed, the timing of the statement is no coincidence and reflects the mounting pressure placed upon the wider Chansiri brand.
For any multinational business, negative publicity represents a serious threat. The unfolding drama at Sheffield Wednesday — now attracting the attention of British MPs who have publicly questioned where funds to support the club are coming from — poses a reputational risk far beyond South Yorkshire. The Chansiri family, proud of their business achievements through companies like Thai Union Group and John West, are likely uncomfortable with the political and media scrutiny currently surrounding Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership.
While there has been no direct indication that the Chansiri family themselves are withdrawing personal support from Dejphon, these recent corporate distancing statements send a clear signal. The companies bearing the Chansiri name are keen to protect their global brands from being associated with the financial difficulties and fan unrest at Sheffield Wednesday.
For many Sheffield Wednesday supporters, this development offers hope. The fact that businesses connected to the Chansiri family are feeling compelled to issue statements shows that the campaign of public pressure is having a tangible effect. The message is clear: the more unwanted attention the situation receives, the more likely it becomes that action may be taken, whether by Dejphon Chansiri himself, his family, or external authorities.
As protests grow louder and headlines continue to circulate both in the UK and Thailand, many fans now believe that change at Hillsborough may no longer be a matter of “if” — but “when.”
