sheffsteel

Not sure if you know this, but in 2020 the Middlesboro chairman Steve Gibson proposed this type of idea regards an annual financial review. There was the FFP rules to control over spending but 3 club owners deliberately ignored FFP rules. Those clubs were Aston Villa, Derby Co and Sheff Wed. Their logic was FFP restrictions were on a 3 year rolling programme, so if a club (like Aston Villa) manager to gain promotion within 3 years of overspending, then they escape any EFL punishment because they now come under the jurisdiction of the Premier League. Villa gamble paid off, Wednesday and Derbys gamble came close to promotion but just failed. Gibson complaint was mainly aimed at Derby Co, who at the time had sold their stadium to try to avoid a large FFP points deduction. Gibson proposed at the annual owners EFL meeting that the EFL follow a model similar to what happens in Germany. He wanted the EFL to use an independent auditor who would be asked to audit and monitor the finances of every EFL club. His idea wasn’t for owners to lose to control but the EFL could block and not sanction certain transfers and warn against offering players large contracts that a club couldn’t afford. There was a vote at the end of his proposal and it was unanimously rejected. What you find regards rules is that 99% of fans have self interest. It would be so typical that John Textor declares his intention to buy SWFC with a view to throwing loads of money at the club but the new regulator change the rules to protect clubs and the leagues. Imagine if the new regulator said they won’t allow players from abroad to be loaned to clubs in the EFL if the owners are the same. So that would mean the players from Botofogo and Olympique Lyonnais (clubsowned by Textor) can’t play for Wednesday. In order to protect clubs the regulator might say, future investments build up debts to the individual owner, not the club. You can just imagine Textor saying he wanted to buy SWFC and had big plans for the club but he’s been forced to walk away because the regulator have made it too unattractive to become an owner. Would there then be an outcry from Owls making it difficult for future owners to show ambition?

What does “uncompetitive mean”, there would need to be a legal definition. Is it losing every game by 3-0 or more? How about a spell of 10 consecutive matches losing 3-0 or more? However what if the players deliberately tried to be thrashed so they could get rid of an owner they didn’t like. There’s examples of many teams that have been uncompetitive in the past. Only the other year Sheff United went 4 consecutive home matches losing 0-5…..even lost a home match 0-8. Should the SU owner be forced to have the club taken off him as it spoiled the credibility of the PL? Any new rules must be brought in before the season starts….so everyone knows what rules there are working to but the normal logic is an “uncompetitive team”, is simply relegated.

Keep repeating this. The EFL have little power to change anything…..all they can do is apply the rules. They represent and work for the clubs….which is effectively the owners…not the fans. It’s up to the owners to propose and vote on reform but it’s common sense owners are never gong to vote in rules to make ownership more difficult with stiffer penalties.

He is paying all the wages eventually…..just playing mind games delaying payments with seemingly little communication or warning. It’s cruel and shows he either has no heart or he’s a madman.

Don’t think they want a boycott of away games. Those fans are funding Chansiri (to a smaller degree) but think for away regulars who have built up points it’s too much of a sacrifice.

What is your opinion on the Owls that buy away tickets putting money in Chansiri pocket? Surely not a penny more means not a penny more? Or are there exceptions?

Security stewards don’t work for Wednesday….so they’ll all be paid as normal. Then the company send SWFC the invoice at the end of the month.

Of course the major date regards Wednesdays future……is when the early bird seaons tickets go on sale. Chandiri (like most owners) only understands money…..so if Owls want to make him truely suffer and send a real message. Its ST renewal time when the real damage can be caused…..if sales are shockingly low THEN the alarm bells start ringing and even Chansiri might have to admit he MUST sell. The other factor which is quite scary and outsiders (like Simon Jordan) in the media don’t realise is that Chansiri does NOT act like a businessman. He’s over emotional, irrational and spiteful….it sounds daft and lacks logic but out of spite he might choose to make SW fans suffer.

SimonJordan said in the week fans of clubs in trouble have always talked about their club going bust….but they never do. He said on Talksport there’s no way Wednesday will go bust and cease to exist…..he said it’s the owner that goes bust. and sooner or later Wednesday will be taken over. I’ve predicted for months that Wednesday will be taken over probably next year in league 1 or the year after. There will be loads of interested parties watching the value of SWFC decrease each month. Theres no rush for them,….they are opportunists and know SW will go into admin sooner or later. Its at that stage they’ll come with their offers…knowing they’ll be able to pay rock bottom prices. and also they’ll be seen as heroes buying a club at rock bottom…….like what happened at Birmingham it will be much easier building foundations at league 1 or even league 2 level. Let’s not forget any new owner (eg Textor) doesn’t actually “care” about Sheff Wednesday, they simply see Sheff Wed as an intersecting business challenge with a great chance for them to make some money.

I can think of 2 factors that will possibly mean the pitch invasion doesn’t happen. 1: Almost everyone inside the ground today will be a season ticket holders. Suspect anyone going on the pitch will receive an instant ban….loosing most of the money they’ve paid for this season and they’ll probably be rejected from buying future tickets. 2: This might sound daft but the weather does tend to effect actions. Isn’t today supposed to be rainy and very windy, with gusts of 50mph? You might get this almost comical scene where some fair weather would be demonstrators tell each other “I’m not getting on the pitch to sit inside the centre circle, the pitch is soaking wet and I’m wearing my favourite jeans…no way….lets do it next match instead”.

Think some of the comments are a response to the criticism and sometimes vitriol, targeted towards anyone spending £5 on a pint in the bar or buying home tickets. Their arguement is backed up with the slogan “not a penny more”. So some are highlighting the discrepancy regards away fans also giving a small amounts to Chansiri. This is defended by comments like “the support impresses potential investors” and “the support helps spur on the players to play better” but these same arguments about away support could be used for home support by filling Hillsboro in these difficult times. Personally, I accept that people have different circumstances and don’t think home or away fans should be criticised. The finances being given to Chansiri by away fans and people buying home tickets, buying drinks in the bars etc is minimal. Overall it’s clear the effects of the boycotts is significant and having an effect on Chansiri and that’s all that matters.

Agree…it’s such an easy thing to say….lets go on strike….but it sets a really dangerous precedent and there could be repercussions. It’s going down a really dangerous area, would receive massive media attention, but don’t expect it all to be positive, altho think it’s a risk worth taking. Also it’s not a case of the players not being paid…the case is part payment and/ or slightly late salary payments. What if a player is paid 4 days late does that still warrant a strike? Think the issue is more about a lack of transparency. It is just a temporary cash flow issue lasting a few days and could this mean salary payments are delayed longer and longer. Not sure how this legally affects things. However it would focus the minds of the EFL. Strike should be used as a last resort…but things are becoming so stupid and desperate that it looking like a viable option. As you mention the players needs to seek advice from the PFA and EFL.

but how would anyone know an owner might be unscrupulous years before it happens? Still say if Nottingham Forest had been relegated after taking the massive gamble of spending £200 million in their 1st season back in the Premier league, they would have been back in the Championship with massive debt well over FFP limits. Could have easily lead to Forest free falling down to league 1 and their fans would have been telling the mass media how Marinakis is an egotistical madman and must be the worse owner in the league.

Isn’t buying a pint the same as buying an away ticket? Both are funding Chansiri by a small amount. How come 1 type of funding is demonised when the other type of funding is glorified? Don’t think a total boycott is realistic because there are always exceptions where their sacrifice is much higher than others. The aim should be to have a boycott that is effective and working….which it is.

1 season of finishing top half in the PL doesn’t really constitute United over performing over 2 decades. Also 6 consecutive seasons in league 1 is the worse spell in Uniteds history….thats underperforming. United have over performed compared to Wednesday but that just shows how bad Wednesday have been. 26 seasons outside the top flight seems ridiculous for a club the size of SWFC…surely thats the worse spell in the top 20 biggest clubs. People used to feel sorry Nottingham Forest regards their absence outside the top flight but there’s was 23 years.

Don’t be baffled…..just realise that people have different circumstances….it’s all about context. Most people can boycott a home game but some people are suffering mental health issues and need escapism. For some gong to Hillsboro is a habit they’ve had for decades and they have become addicts. For others it’s might be their main outlet to spend time with family (son, father), they have a common interest forming their family connection. Their family always comes before their football club and I don’t blame them. A one-off £80 isn’t going to exactly help Chansiri. The same argument could be used against those 2.5K to 3K gong to away matches and their unwillingness to make a sacrifice and indirectly funding Chansiri. Their logic is it’s too much of a sacrifice and Chansiri only receives a small income from it. Don’t think it’s reasonable or realistic to expect a 100% boycott. Everyone should examine their conscience and make the decision based on that….for some their unique situation puts massive pressure on them going but that a minority. As long as it’s a majority boycott and it’s having an effect….thats all that matters.

Feel your pain….it was exactly like that for Sheff United fans in the Premier league 2 years ago. Heckingbottam knew the team has no chance and just kept it defensively tight so every match would end up in a 2-0 or 3-0 defeat at worse. Wilder knew, losing 2-0 every week would result in a record PL low points, not even breaking double figures So he was more open and attacking, at least trying to win but teams would catch United on the break, hence so many 0-5 defeats altho there were also a few unexpected wins….so the record low points total was avoided. Its totally soul destroying watching your team when pre match you know they have no chance. You concede an early goal and realise the match is instantly over. Really makes you question why you’re there or even showing interest. It’s a weird feeling for any obsessive fan, to have total apathy where you genuinely don’t care about results of your club. To save your sanity you have to force yourself to not care.

Don’t blame you mate. Wednesday were good in the mid 90’s and brilliant in the early 90’s. United were embarrassing really…..doing a stadium renovation….knocking down a stand…then instantly running out of money. Leaving the club as a 3 sided ground for longer than it needed to be….just like what’s happening at Oxford United with their 3 sided ground.

People rightly criticise Sheff Wed lack of stadium improvements/ renovation however it’s slightly unfair. The factor that some of the younger fans might not realise is that from 1966 to 1995…..Hillsboro was easily one of the best stadiums in England. All 4 sides of the ground were at a very good standard. Compare this to other clubs who had 2 good sides and 2 terrible stands or once all seaters were made compulsory the capacity was far too small for that club. Don’t praise other clubs for forward thinking regards stadium improvements. For many clubs in England it was a simple no brainer decision….there was no choice but to build 1 or 2 brand new stands or their stadium was so antiquated and small (after becoming all seater) there was no choice but to move into a brand new bigger stadium. Wednesday have been slightly unlucky. As the stadium is so good…there’s never been any urgency to upgrade. It’s always been classed as a low priority. The worse stand that is the highest priority is Leppings Lane but even rebuilding that stand doesn’t offer business advantages because it’s the away end. Seems almost perverse to give the shiny new/ best facilities to away fans. Imagine a scenario if Leppings Lane was rebuilt to a high standard holding 6,000. However logistics suggest it’s better to us it as the away end, imagine in league 1 when there’s 500 away fans sat in a 6K stand. Arguably it would be a total waste of money. Even the decision to renovate Hillsboro or move stadium is difficult, a 50/50 decision with all options offering strong positives and strong negatives.

According to Wikipedia at Bramall Lane John Street stand (just under 7K seats) was built in 1996 Kop corner stand (900 seats) was built in 2001 Corner extension (3000 seats) joining the upper tier away end to the South stand was built in 2006.

Really agree with your sentiments however they would probably say “football is far from dead”. The popularity and attendances have never been as good in its entire history. Several clubs could average 80K if their stadia was big enough. What I don’t like is the hypocracy of it all and I even include Wednesday fans in this. When Wednesday return to the PL and manage to establish themselves then you’ll find that the vast bulk of Wednesday fans will say how great football is and won’t care a jot about unfairness regards clubs in the EFL. If you watch PL podcasts they all rave about the “golden age” of today’s football with England having all the top players. Even the likes of the Spanish, German and Italian teams are worried because their leagues just can’t compete financially with the powerful English league. The issue is that this is classed as success and the EPL aren’t standing still, they want to widen the gap. The Regulator will probably try to stifle their success but I’m not sure how they’ll be able to do it.

No it doesn’t, he may be able to find it already have the funding for the season. No one knows. However he’s refusing to provide proof of this or explain where it’s come from. As mentioned earlier he’s just refusing to cooperate with the EFL probably thinking “what’s my financial situation got to do with you”?

but don’t you see some hypocrisy? you rightly say “revenue streams should be poo down as far as can be done” but for those that attend away games…they would say it is too much of a sacrifice compared to the effect it would have but the same might be said for anyone who loves drinking….spending £5 on a pint. I think everyone has their own situation…..and they just need to wrestle with their conscience and make the decision that’s right for them. So you will have examples where certain fans will always buy home and/ or away tickets and even buy food inside the ground think the important point isn’t so much a full 100% boycott which is unrealistic, it just needs to be the vast majority so it becomes effective.

but what about those buying away tickets….they also give Chansiri a small income. thats the issue….people have different definitions of what level of sacrifice is reasonable. also there’s a factor of paying £8 for a pie and bovril or buying a Grimsby ticket doesn’t effectively help Chansiri. but if a few 1000 have this selfish attitude then it DOES help Chansiri. Personally instead of criticising those breaking through the picket line think it’s better to be pleased about the numbers that didn’t go. The pay on the day numbers are significantly smaller than normal…..so it will be having the desired effect and that’s all that matters.

It’s common sense…..Wednesday, a club with big potential may well become available on the cheap. Of course plenty of chancers and ambitious millionaires/ billionaires will be initially interested but interested doesn’t mean they’ll bid. but it’s a buyers market…..the value of Wedneday is only heading one way, that’s downward. Therefore if you’re a businessman there’s no rush….there’s even a chance you’ll pick it up really cheap if and when admin arrives. A serious buyer might be better waiting until Wednesday are in league 1….then the club is even cheaper and they can start afresh. I keep picturing Chansiri stuck on a flimsy raft in the middle of the ocean with the sharks circling. He’s hoping a ship will pass by, notice him and rescue him. The sharks are just biding their time waiting for lunch.