Wrexham 'supportive' of Owls' protest banner

Wrexham say Sheffield Wednesday fans will be permitted to display a banner in protest against Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri during the Championship game between the sides on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Before their trip to the Stok Cae Ras, the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust (SWST) said on social media they had been told by Wrexham they would not be allowed to display certain banners this weekend.

But Wrexham have now issued a statement saying they are "supportive" of a banner protest.

Wednesday supporters unfurled a banner reading "SWFC for sale - enough is enough" during their 2025-26 league opener at Leicester City, while the majority of away fans that day waited until the fifth minute to take their seats as part of a protest against Chansiri.

On Thursday, SWST said Wrexham had refused permission for the banners used at Leicester to be displayed at the north Wales club as they were "considered to carry 'political connotations'".

But the Welsh club then responded on Friday afternoon that, after "an internal review" as well as consultation with the SWST, the Wrexham Supporters' Trust and "other stakeholders", the club were "supportive of the display of a large banner in a safe and appropriate way in the away supporters' section".

"As a club whose own survival has depended on the actions of our supporters, we remain committed to listening to fans and ensuring that community and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do," added Wrexham.

SWST said: "We thank Wrexham for their understanding, and we're grateful to all the fans who spoke out in support."

Chansiri, whose family owns seafood company Thai Union Group, bought Sheffield Wednesday from Milan Mandaric a decade ago.

In 2020, the club were given a 12-point penalty - reduced to six on appeal - for breaching English Football League (EFL) profitability and sustainability rules.

The Owls were relegated from the Championship and returned in 2023 but were also put under a transfer embargo later that year because of payments owed to HMRC.

Wednesday's plight has only got worse, with head coach Danny Rohl and most of his staff leaving this summer. Rohl's assistant Henrik Pedersen was appointed his successor.

Wrexham fans have had their own previous struggles with ownership in the past.

In 2011, Red Dragons supporters raised more than £100,000 in just 24 hours to ensure they could remain in the league, with the Wrexham Supporters' Trust taking control of the club following the reign of Geoff Moss.

It is in stark contrast to their current situation which has seen them win three successive promotions, from the National League to the Championship, under the ownership of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson faced similar struggles during his time as manager of Bolton Wanderers.

Having guided Bolton to promotion from League One, he endured two turbulent campaigns in the Championship amid financial turmoil before departing in 2019 after the club had been placed in administration.

"It [Sheffield Wednesday) is a great club, steeped in history," said Parkinson.

"I've been through it before at Bolton Wanderers as a manager. People always talk to me about pressure of management. Pressure is when you're at Bolton Wanderers and you're not getting paid for five months, there's a food bank in place for all the staff who aren't getting the wages and the club's on the brink of going out of business, which it very nearly did.

"Bolton was one game away, first game of the season Wycombe away. If we hadn't fulfilled that fixture, the club would have gone the same way as Bury. It's as simple as that.

"Talking about that period of time brings back feelings of stress because me and Steve [Parkin, assistant manager] and the staff had to keep all the players going and competing at a level with a threadbare squad and obviously not getting any money in the bank."

He added: "Everybody in football, we're all football people, understands that along the way there's going to be clubs nearly every year who are in difficult situations and it's important for the football community and world to support those clubs. I'm sure they'll get a lot of support."

Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday are both looking for their first points of the season this weekend having lost each of their two Championship matches so far this term.