Sheffield Wednesday have been left to rot by Dejphon Chansiri - he MUST sell crisis club
The Thai tuna magnate is the only person that has the power to end his reign of terror. And if he continues to limp on, it is not an exaggeration to say one of English football's oldest and most famous clubs could well cease to exist.
On the eve of their return to Championship action, the Owls are a mess. They have 16 contracted senior players, though several of those are understood to have submitted their notices after yet more unpaid wages.
It's not just the players that have gone without their salaries. Non-playing staff with mortgages to pay and kids to feed have also been left in the lurch by the club's hapless owner.
This is in spite of a fire sale that saw Djeidi Gassama, Anthony Musaba and academy starlet Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri - son of ex-Everton favourite Danny - leave for well under market value, while Josh Windass and Michael Smith walked away for free.
Highly-rated boss Danny Rohl has left Hillsborough and the remaining players opted not to take part in a planned friendly at Burnley last week. Now, attention turns to their opener at Leicester on Sunday.
If the players decide they will not take to the field, the most embarrassing episode in Wednesday's 158-year history will plumb new depths. And who could blame them?
Travelling fans have pledged not to take their seats in the away end for the first five minutes of the game as a show of defiance live on Sky Sports, while over £10,000 has been raised by the club's Supporters' Trust to fund future protests.
The Trust has urged supporters not to put anymore into the pocket of Chansiri, with a boycott of replica shirts, other merchandise and matchday refreshments.
The North Stand at Hillsborough has been condemned by health and safety chiefs, with season ticket holders yet to be informed of where they will be relocated ahead of the first home game against Stoke next week.
It is symbolic of a club that has been left to rot by an owner not fit for purpose.
There is no lack of credible buyers for the club, just a lack of a credible seller. There are multiple offers on the table, but Chansiri is demanding an unrealistic price to cease control.
His negligence is an attack on a community forged through generations of support. Many fans have spoken out on the toll this situation is having on their mental health. Certainly, it's the first thing I think about when I wake up every morning.
Wednesday are still under embargo for defaulted payments of transfer fees, while the club is banned from spending any money in the next three windows.
A points deduction seems inevitable, but all this pales into insignificance for a fanbase just desperate to still have a club to support at the end of this saga.
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