Dejphon Chansiri (Thai: เดชพล จันศิริ) is a Thai businessman who owns EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday. The Chansiri family, with an estimated net worth of $575 million, controls the Thai Union Group, the world's largest canned tuna producer. In 2015, Chansiri led a consortium to acquire Sheffield Wednesday for £37.5 million, aiming for Premier League promotion by 2017; however, amidst protests and financial troubles in September and October 2023, including an embargo and a request for £2 million from fans, Chansiri announced he would not invest further in the club.
Dejphon Chansiri | |
|---|---|
| เดชพล จันศิริ | |
| Born | |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Owning Sheffield Wednesday |
| Spouse | Tipparut Chansiri[2] |
Career
editChansiri's family controls the Thai Union Group, the world's largest producer of canned tuna.[3][4] The Chansiri family is estimated by Forbes to be worth $575m as of 2020.[5] In January 2015, a consortium led by Chansiri acquired a 100% stake in Sheffield Wednesday from Milan Mandarić for £37.5m and targeted promotion to the Premier League by 2017.[6]
During the summer of 2015, Chansiri changed many aspects of the Sheffield Wednesday set-up including the backroom staff and players, such as sacking manager Stuart Gray and replacing him with Carlos Carvalhal, the latter of which had previously managed Turkish side Beşiktaş and several clubs in his home country of Portugal.[7]
During the unveiling of manager Xisco Muñoz ahead of the 2023–24 season, Chansiri would go on a rant about former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer following criticism of the club on Twitter.[8]
In September 2023, Chansiri announced that he would invest no further money in the club after protests which included damage being caused, insults aimed at Chansiri and people approaching his family. These had followed poor performances by the club which had left them bottom of the Championship.[9] In October 2023, the English Football League put the club under a registration embargo due to the club not paying a bill to HM Revenue and Customs.[10] Chansiri subsequently asked the club's fans for £2m to help pay the debt and cover wages, saying it was a problem with cashflow;[11] the following day he confirmed the outstanding debts and salaries had been paid.[12]
References
edit- ^ Frostick, Nancy; Slater, Matt; Taylor, Daniel (22 November 2019). "The story of Dejphon Chansiri". The Athletic. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ Miller, Alex (2020-01-08). "Dejphon Chansiri's wife named as director of Sheffield Wednesday parent company in structural shake-up". The Star. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Thai group buys Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 2015-01-29. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Sky Bet Championship: Thai consortium complete Sheffield Wednesday takeover". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "Kraisorn Chansiri & family". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday: Dejphon Chansiri targets Premier League". BBC Sport. 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday name Carlos Carvalhal as new head coach". BBC Sport. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Xisco Munoz: Sheffield Wednesday boss delighted to be back in English football". BBC Sport. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Sheff Wed owner Chansiri to stop funding club". BBC Sport. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Sheff Wed under embargo because of HMRC debt". BBC Sport. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Sheff Wed owner asks fans for £2m to pay debts". BBC Sport. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Dejphon Chansiri: Sheffield Wednesday owner says club has paid HMRC debt". BBC Sport. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-24.