Dejphon Chansiri: You have to give credit when it’s due – Joe Crann’s column

I don’t think it’s too much of an exaggeration to say that English football is in crisis mode right now – while the Premier League will be fine, the further down the pyramid you go the worse things get.

But despite millions of pounds being lost while games are played behind closed doors, Chansiri has dipped into his pocket to make sure that Garry Monk has what he needs to make sure that the 12-point deduction won’t relegate the club.

Whether that be the arrival of a whole new technical team, the signing of a number of free agents with decent wages, or the reported +/- £1m that was reportedly paid to land Josh Windass and now Callum Paterson – you simply cannot fault his commitment to the cause.

And he’s done all that while looking after the non-playing staff at Wednesday too. The people behind the scenes who’ve been left furloughed by the shutdown of Hillsborough more than six months ago.

And the signings have been smart, too.

After the Owls’ signing record became the butt of jokes, Chansiri and his recruitment team have since managed to land Massimo Luongo, Dominic Iorfa, Kadeem Harris, Josh Windass, Callum Paterson, Elias Kachunga, Chey Dunkley, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Moses Odubajo for about £2m.

They’re of good ages, with good potential and sell-on value, and – as far as I’ve been told – all fit a very specific character profile that Monk has been after to try and change the culture at S6 in order to take the club forward.

And importantly, if we’re talking long-term sustainability, collectively they club’s recent signings will already be worth much more than what was paid for the, and that’s testament to the work that’s been done by everyone involved.

Will Chansiri be pleased with all the decisions he’s made since taking over at Sheffield Wednesday? Probably not. Has he learned his lessons? It looks like it.

But most importantly, has he backed his manager and the club to the very best of his ability ahead of what is one of the most key seasons for SWFC? Absolutely.

The options handed out by the club with regards to refunds for last season were also done with the right intentions, to give fans what they wanted/needed. Which is more than can be said for some other clubs.

People will say what they want about the Wednesday owner – and they will – but for the work that’s been done recently I think he has to be praised, and given some kudos as Sheffield Wednesday turn a corner with what feels like his complete, resolute backing.

Only time will tell what lies ahead for the Owls, but thanks to Chansiri and his backing, they certainly won’t end up in a situation like Wigan Athletic or Macclesfield Town anytime soon, and for that we should be grateful.

More Owls news

“Get in people’s faces…” – Paterson on role, celebrations and more

Bullen comments on Adedoyin’s debut red card

Boost for Sheffield Wednesday as midfielder gets back in contention

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.