Column: Promotion would be a fitting reward for Owls chief

He has only been an owner of a football club for 13 months, but Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri knows exactly how it feels to attend a showpiece final at Wembley.
Dejphon ChansiriDejphon Chansiri
Dejphon Chansiri

At the end of February, the Thai businessman saw Manchester City edge out Liverpool on penalties to win the Capital One Cup.

As much as he enjoyed the experience, Chansiri would love nothing more than to go back to the national stadium with Wednesday next month.

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There is still plenty of work to be done for Chansiri’s dream to become a reality. For a start, the team must confirm their Championship play-off spot. A point against Cardiff City tomorrow at a jam-packed Hillsborough will book their involvement in the end of season knockout tournament.

A two-legged Play-Off Semi-Final duel with either Burnley, Middlesbrough or Brighton and Hove Albion then awaits Carlos Carvalhal’s charges. Whoever misses out on automatic promotion are sure to provide stern opposition.

Regardless of what division the team are competing in next season, I think we can all agree that Wednesday have progressed at a rapid rate on and off the pitch under Chansiri’s watchful eye. It is hard to criticise or find fault with his regime. The club has come a long way in a short period of time.

Just like Milan Mandaric before him, Chansiri has become completely hooked by the Owls. His family have also fallen in love with the club.

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I have seen first hand how passionately and enthusiastically Chansiri talks about Sheffield Wednesday. He has quickly learned about the history, tradition and values of the club.

Chansiri deserves credit too for improving the lines of communication with fans. He spent nearly four hours listening to season ticket holders and non season ticket holders feedback on various subjects at the Owls’ Supporters Steering Group last week. How many other chairmen give up that amount of time to interact with fans? Can you imagine Aston Villa’s Randy Lerner or Newcastle’s Mike Ashley doing the same thing?

Chansiri wants and expects the best. He is trying to make things better and give the supporters what they want. Standing still is simply not an option to him.

Chansiri, of course, initially set a two-year timescale on promotion to the Premier League. It would be a nice and fitting reward for him if they achieved it in the capital 12 months ahead of schedule.