Popular Post KivoOwl Posted February 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) Things started off well enough. His first involvement was the signing of three players during the January 2015 transfer window. In the summer, he re-signed Lewis McGugan, at the time a huge statement of intent as the player had been a revelation during his loan spell. In May 2015, after acknowledging that he didn’t know enough about football, he announced his intentions to have a five-man management set-up consisting of a three-man ‘Sporting Director Committee’ (Adam Pearson, Glenn Roeder and Paul Senior), a Director of Football and a Head Coach. After Mark Cooper rejected the chance to take the latter job, the relatively unknown Carlos Carvalhal was appointed instead, with the Director of Football role laying vacant. Two weeks after joining, Pearson left for Leeds United, and Roeder left in December. None of the vacated roles were filled, leaving Carvalhal in sole charge of first team affairs. Chansiri turned to agent Amadeu Paixao for transfer recruitment advice, with a raft of unknowns such as Modou Sougou, Lucas Joao, Marco Matias and Darrly Lachman joining Ross Wallace, Fernando Forestieri and Barry Bannan through the door. The first major backlash from fans came after the announcement of ticket prices for the 2015/16 season - £39 to sit on the Kop for the game against Bristol City, and season ticket prices up across the board – the cheapest adult ticket going from £360 to £395. Chansiri was forced to explain his reasoning behind such a steep rise in prices, saying that levels of income had to be raised across the board to help pay for a promotion push. Initial scepticism gave way to acceptance when the team on the field started doing the business and looked set for top end finish. In January 2016 Chansiri decided to ditch the ‘70s Owl’ logo and designed a modern version of the older club emblem. Again, any murmurs of discontent were pushed to one side as the team surged up the league table – who cares what the badge looks like when the product on the pitch is better? Eventually, the team lost in the play-off final at Wembley. The same month, losses of £11m were announced in the club accounts. On top of the increase in POTG prices (the average price of the cheapest POTG ticket for the 2015/16 season was £31.11, up from £23.57 a year earlier), season ticket prices for the 2016/17 season went up again – the cheapest adult ticket going from £395 to £415. The summer of 2016 saw the arrival of Daniel Pudil, Steven Fletcher and Almen Abdi – all three popular signings, but the latter two struggled to get going. Fletcher took nearly three years to hit decent form, while Abdi proved a waste of £4m. Also incoming were Vincent Sasso, Adam Reach and Urby Emanuelson. Transfer outlay for the season would near £20m, though previous favourite McGugan was mysteriously frozen out. The next big talking point was the decision to ditch stripes from the club’s shirt for the first time in over 40 years. But the controversy soon died down. Who cares about what shirt a side is wearing when they’re doing well? The production of replica kits went to an unknown Australian firm, to help save the club and fans money. The shirts didn’t arrive until well after the start of the season, and then they were priced at £59. A raft of bizarre occurrences at the start of the season included the chairman choosing the squad numbers (goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith famously given the number 2 shirt), golden elephants installed outside the South Stand to give us good luck, a two-minute silence held for the recently deceased King of Thailand and the ‘SWFC’ lettering in the North Stand seats replaced with ‘CHANSIRI’. All received some negativity, but the majority were again in support of the chairman as long as he continued to provide a good product on the pitch. The free-flowing football of 15/16 disappeared and Wednesday toiled throughout the season, though they eventually finished in fourth place, before falling short in the play-off semi-finals against Huddersfield. Ticket prices rose further in the summer of 2017. The cheapest adult ST was now £455, up another £40. The average price of the cheapest POTG ticket rose to £33.36. Membership prices also rose from £30 to £50. Jordan Rhodes was signed permanently for £10m after a pretty average loan spell. Also incoming were George Boyd, Joey Pelupessy and Joost van Aken – all three turned out to be terrible signings. Losses of £20m announced in the club accounts. In July 2017 young starlet George Hirst was frozen out of all playing action over a contract dispute, to be joined by Sean Clare later in the season. Both left on free transfers. Kit production again hit problems – stripes returned (albeit pinstripes), but two companies created by the chairman – DTaxis and Elev8 were revealed as kit manufacturers and sponsors. They were again late in arriving. A new scheme, Club1867, was announced. £1,500 would get a supporter a bronze plaque on their seat and a ‘free’ 3-year-season ticket upon promotion to the Premier League. In September 2017 the club celebrated its 150th anniversary with a fireworks display and a world record attempt at producing a ball-shaped cake. On the pitch, results dipped further, and Carlos Carvalhal was eventually shown the door. Another relative unknown – Jos Luhukay – was appointed manager. Around the same time, controversial ex-Charlton CEO Katrien Meire was installed in a similar position at Wednesday. She left after 12 months. Increased fan unrest at the downturn in form was challenged by Chansiri, who set up a poll asking fans whether they wanted the same ticket prices and levels of investment in the squad, or lower ticket prices and a turn towards introducing younger players into the squad. 70% voted for the former, favouring to continue paying higher ticket prices in return for continued investment in the transfer market. In March 2018 further losses of £21m were announced in club accounts, but by the end of the season the side had managed to avoid relegation to League One. In the summer of 2018, season ticket prices were frozen, but membership packages went from £50 to £90 – a decision that was reversed after supporter backlash. Replica kits were again not ready for sale until after the season had started. For the first time since pre-WWII, no players signed for the club during the summer, with youth players instead integrated into the side. Instead of ticket prices being lowered, the average price of the cheapest POTG ticket over the 2018/19 season rose further, to £33.17. One bright note in the summer of 2018 was the lifting of the club’s transfer embargo, though fans had never been informed that the club was in one to start with. On the pitch, Wednesday looked set for a relegation dogfight after a poor start to the season which cost Luhukay his job. Steve Bruce took over the reigns eight weeks later and eventually the side again managed to stave off relegation. In the summer of 2019, the club announced a profit of £2.5m in the club accounts, though this was helped by the sale of the club’s home of 120 years to the club chairman for £60m – an attempt to circumvent Profit & Sustainability rules. Eventually, the EFL caught wind of the ploy and brought charges against the club, with a large points deduction the likely penalty. Steve Bruce controversially left for Newcastle United after just four months in the Owls hotseat, but it wasn’t for another eight weeks that his successor was appointed, Garry Monk. In January 2020 the club announced another new ticket scheme, selling 10-year season tickets in another hope to drum up much-needed income. Edited February 12, 2020 by KivoOwl 2 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiJ Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Tbf, cakeball was a great signing. Wish we still had him now. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KivoOwl Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 tl;dr - Wednesday fans are far too patient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue and white Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Utterly clueless and is taking this club in a dangerous direction. Needs to sell and do so very very quickly. This isn't going to end well with him as our owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastor Kidneys Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 That's hurting my eyes Kivo but if by any chance you're saying the chairman is clueless I fully agree. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0114 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Ruining our club top to bottom. People won’t realise till it’s too late. We are in serious trouble under Chansiri. Any other club there’d be pitchforks outside the ground. I’m not blaming Monk for this mess, it solely lies at Chansiri. The whole club needs a reset. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animis Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 minute ago, KivoOwl said: tl;dr - Wednesday fans are far too patient. I don't know what the vast majority can do - we stand from the sides and watch it slowly unravel. He can pretty much do what he wants within reason. It will be interesting how many ST holders renew next season. I can't believe any of them can call this value for money in any shape or form. Lower revenue and lower costs mean a one way road unfortunately, unless he finds a Wilder-type gem and we get lucky with the Summer signings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRADDO Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, 0114 said: Ruining our club top to bottom. People won’t realise till it’s too late. We are in serious trouble under Chansiri. Any other club there’d be pitchforks outside the ground. I’m not blaming Monk for this mess, it solely lies at Chansiri. The whole club needs a reset. I totally agree. There is a cancer running through the club and Chansiri is right at the heart of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristmace Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Completely devoid of a serious football strategy other than throwing money at has been players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalthamOwl Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) Said it before DC is going to kill this great club. Absolutely clueless when it comes to running a football club. Edited February 12, 2020 by WalthamOwl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bulgaria Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 It's just a downward spiral that is gathering speed. It's definitely not boring though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0114 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Even the he spends money thing has ran out now? Last cash signings Luongo - around a million? Iorfa - few hundred grand? Pelupessy - few hundred grand? Van Aken was the last big money spent and that was back in 2017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowl Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I want him gone. But chances of that seem so very remote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KivoOwl Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 minute ago, Animis said: I don't know what the vast majority can do - we stand from the sides and watch it slowly unravel. He can pretty much do what he wants within reason. It will be interesting how many ST holders renew next season. I can't believe any of them can call this value for money in any shape or form. Lower revenue and lower costs mean a one way road unfortunately, unless he finds a Wilder-type gem and we get lucky with the Summer signings. For a good start, it needs the vast majority to see that the chairman is the problem. We've got a set of players I wouldn't pay in washers, and a manager that seemingly hasn't got a clue, but the chairman is the one destroying the club. Amazingly, 75% of our fans will still back him to the hilt when we win two games running - because he's invested £180m+ (his claim). They can't see that investing nothing, a la Mandaric, is far better than investing £180m badly, which is what Chansiri has done. He won't leave until he's A) seen to be a success or B) someone is willing to stump up the money he's ploughed in. Neither will happen. Make no mistake, we are in a fight to save our club, and i'm not sure the fans realise it yet, or can do anything about it if they do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlyegg Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 4 minutes ago, 0114 said: Even the he spends money thing has ran out now? Last cash signings Luongo - around a million? Iorfa - few hundred grand? Pelupessy - few hundred grand? Van Aken was the last big money spent and that was back in 2017. Don't know if you heard the news, this man in a suit sez we can't spend any dosh, otherwise we will have trousers taken down and be severely bruised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morepork Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) When cakeball was your finest hour...... Edited February 12, 2020 by Morepork 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0114 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 5 minutes ago, sherlyegg said: Don't know if you heard the news, this man in a suit sez we can't spend any dosh, otherwise we will have trousers taken down and be severely bruised. We are currently waiting to have our trousers taken down 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animis Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 minute ago, KivoOwl said: For a good start, it needs the vast majority to see that the chairman is the problem. We've got a set of players I wouldn't pay in washers, and a manager that seemingly hasn't got a clue, but the chairman is the one destroying the club. Amazingly, 75% of our fans will still back him to the hilt when we win two games running - because he's invested £180m+ (his claim). They can't see that investing nothing, a la Mandaric, is far better than investing £180m badly, which is what Chansiri has done. He won't leave until he's A) seen to be a success or B) someone is willing to stump up the money he's ploughed in. Neither will happen. Make no mistake, we are in a fight to save our club, and i'm not sure the fans realise it yet, or can do anything about it if they do. I think DC is very much at the centre of the issues, and most fans understand that his unconventional and unorthodox behavior has put us at risk. However, football's short term, and not the real world in terms of a normal business model. It's likely he or someone will simply write of millions of pounds of the debt without any explanation of why it happened or what we are going to do to prevent it happening again. The fans are desperate for success and cling to anything; any small glimmer of hope - a scrappy 1-0 will feel like a cup final win at the moment. They've stopped looking at empty executive boxes, fake business advertising and no POTD fans because they're numb from the reality because he doesn't seem to care so why should they - it's his business and losses so crack on. Of course it's not sustainable but we don't know how this will all end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick_Turpin Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 18 minutes ago, WalthamOwl said: Said it before DC is going to kill this great club. Absolutely clueless when it comes to running a football club. If he did kill it there would be people on here blaming anyone and everyone bar him. He’s the Trump of football owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEnchanter Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I wholeheartedly don't think Chansiri has anything othet than the best ambitions for the club. But he can't run a football club at this level and he certainly can't so it alone like he believes he can. Until he realises that then we will never be able to build successfully towards a promotion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now