Posted on 5th August 2025
Sheffield Wednesday crisis: Protest planned for season opener
Sheffield Wednesday fans have announced plans for a protest at the start of their season opener away at Leicester City as the club’s future remains in the balance.
Led by Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust, the protest will be taking place in the away end at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Sunday – supporters are being asked to leave the away end empty for the first five minutes of the match.
The empty away end will feature a banner calling for an end to the club’s protracted crisis which supporters hope “will make a huge statement.”
“We are famed for our incredible support, let’s display that we have had enough,” the trust said.
“With the match live on Sky Sports, a visibly empty away end will highlight the seriousness of the club’s plight to a national audience.”
The trust have also published guidance for Wednesday supporters ahead of the new season regarding season tickets, with fans having already forked out for the 2025-26 season while concerns have been expressed at the club’s ability to fulfil their fixtures.
Sheffield Council’s Safety Advisory Group recently forced the closure of the club’s north stand leading many fans to seek refunds on pre-purchased tickets – the trust has highlighted concerns about the club’s communication around those current ticketing policies and processing of refunds.
Players’ statement
Earlier this summer, Wednesday’s head coach Danny Röhl left the club along with other senior coaching figures, leaving a skeleton staff of coaches and players behind.
Staff and player wages have gone unpaid forcing the players to withdraw from a pre-season friendly against Burnley and prompting a collective statement from the players this week.
“Players and staff are now feeling real, practical impacts in their professional and personal lives and we are extremely concerned at the lack of clarity regarding what is happening and when this will be resolved,” the players said this week.
“We have made it clear to the club that we want this situation to be addressed as soon as possible so decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future.”
What does the FSA think?
The FSA has been supporting our members at Sheffield Wednesday for the last two seasons as the club’s ownership crisis has dragged on.
We have been on hand to offer advice and guidance to Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust as well as other supporter organisations at Hillsborough. Fan groups from across our Championship Network have also reached out to supporter organisations at Sheffield Wednesday offering their support and published statements of solidarity.
Additionally, part of our role has been to facilitate discussions between supporter groups at the crisis hit club and the EFL.
We call on Sheffield Wednesday’s leadership to work with all parties to find a solution as soon as possible to secure a sustainable future for the club.
