Sheffield Wednesday could endure nightmare this summer, but there’s still hope for dreams to come true
The summer is always a tricky and very important time for any football club, but Sheffield Wednesday have rarely faced a more decisive moment in the club’s history.
After a promising yet inconsistent campaign, the Owls finished up 12th in the Championship table, neither threatened by relegation nor truly challenging for the play-offs.
There were hopes of a dalliance with the top six but that hope didn’t last too long. And now, heading into the summer, hope is certainly in short supply if you speak to any Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 Championship campaign, there’s every chance that Wednesday will come out of this summer in a pretty bleak position thanks to financial issues and unrest behind the scenes.
But, there is a chance — a small one, but still a chance — that everything finally falls into place for this sleeping giant.
- READ MORE: Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday fans in total agreement over ‘massive talent’ Shea Charles ahead of next season
The worst case scenario for Sheffield Wednesday
Let’s look at the worst case scenario for Sheffield Wednesday this summer first, to get the bad stuff out of the way. First and foremost, Danny Rohl might not be around much longer.
Rohl is wanted by a number of clubs, including Southampton and Leicester City, as well as Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Fulham, who are braced to lose their own managers.
Based on what Rohl has been saying of late, it seems the lack of ambition and stability from owner Dejphon Chansiri has pushed him towards the exit.
That leads us onto the next point. Fans see Chansiri as the big issue at the club, too, and desperately want him to sell up and move on.
His failure to pay players on time, apparent reluctance to spend in the transfer market, and general behaviour and attitude are all factors that many believe are holding Wednesday back from progressing to the levels they should reach.
It’s been a long time since Sheffield Wednesday were in the top flight, and with Chansiri at the helm, sadly, it’ll be a good while longer until that changes.
The Thai businessman has been stubborn in his position, and though he promised he would sell if a suitable offer comes in, it looks more and more likely that he will be sticking around now.
Throw into all of this the fact that Josh Windass’ contract is expiring, Shea Charles is heading back to Southampton after his loan spell, and there doesn’t seem to be a plan in place to replace them.
We could be looking at a situation come August where the Owls have lost their manager, lost key players, and are still stuck with an owner nobody wants. Not to mention the fact that financial discrepancies could arise again, leading to punishments for the Owls.
Now that would be a very grim situation indeed.
- READ MORE:Â Sheffield Wednesday fans all have the same thing to say as Owls fan Jamie Vardy leaves Leicester City
Things could go exactly how Sheffield Wednesday fans want this summer
Now, let’s look on the bright side and dream for a while, shall we?
For a start, there is at least plenty of interest in buying Sheffield Wednesday. A US-based investor lodged a takeover bid, reportedly, while Moroccan billionaire Anas Sefrioui is also watching the situation closely.
Whether either of those options come to anything remains to be seen, but there’s no denying there is potentially light at the end of that particular tunnel.
And, of course, with a new owner there comes the promise of renewed optimism and more importantly, money. If Wednesday were able to start competing with the big boys in the Championship financially, we’d surely see them pushing for promotion with real intent.
That could be enough to tempt Rohl to stay put and continue the project he has started. Even if it’s not, there would be plenty of candidates to replace Rohl and start something new with the backing of a positive new owner.
Along with Rohl, perhaps Josh Windass would stay and carry on the fight for the Owls. They may even have enough pulling power to lure Jamie Vardy back to his boyhood club, which would really get the fans going.
New owners, a manager buying into the project, players desperate to play for the club; it could all turn into a dream very quickly for Sheffield Wednesday, and Chansiri leaving is the first domino that needs to fall.
It will take a fair shove to actually make that particular domino topple, but with immense pressure from the fans, it’s not inconceivable.
Sheffield Wednesday have suffered long enough. That passionate and, frankly, massive fanbase deserve better. Let’s hope this is the year it all finally turns around for them.
