The Steel City derby is the biggest day in the footballing calendar for supporters of the Owls and the Blades, but one big issue is already making Sheffield Wednesday fans very angry ahead of the game.
Both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United start this week coming off the back of high profile defeats in the Championship this weekend.
The Owls fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat against Burnley on Friday night, while Chris Wilder’s side succumbed to the relentless force of Leeds United on Monday night, with both results changing the complexion of the promotion race in the Championship.
But, league position, form, and promotion ambitions largely go out of the window when it comes to the Steel City derby, with the two Sheffield sides only concerned with getting one over on their fierce rivals.
We can’t wait for the big game and what is sure to be a fiery affair on the pitch, but the noise from the supporters has started early, and it’s the sound of discontent rumbling from S6.
Sheffield Wednesday fans fume at ‘disgusting’ ticket prices for Steel City derby
Tickets for the Steel City derby were put on sale on Monday morning for Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holders and special members, but supporters baulked at the prices placed on the tickets for the upcoming clash at Hillsborough.
Tickets for next month's Steel City derby are now on sale to Season Ticket holders, Owls Members and Owls Foundation members
Full details here
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— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) February 24, 2025
Prices start from £40 for members, while it’ll cost £45 for non-members to sit on the Kop at Hillsborough. Tickets go up to £54 for non-members sitting on the South Stand, while even seniors and under-21s could have to pay up to £44 to go to the game.
These prices prompted one fan to threaten never to attend this fixture in the future, writing: “This will be my last ever Steel City derby in person. Please let [Dejphon] Chansiri know his ticket prices and general awful running of the club are the reason why I can no longer warrant going to matches.”
Fans described the ticketing strategy as “insane,” “ridiculously high,” “disgusting,” and “scandalous” with many suggesting they have been priced out of attending the game next month.
One fan lamented the experience and the lack of value for money presented by a trip to Hillsborough, posting: “£54 to go to a ground where they serve four people in the 15 minute half-time break. The pitch looks like a beach and the fan zone is a piece of AstroTurf in the car park, viva Chansiri.”
Another said: “I can’t see Chansiri leaving anytime soon but I’m fairly sure it’s not that far away that the greed starts to price out more of those that still support him.”
How much longer will Chansiri stay at Sheffield Wednesday?
Dejphon Chansiri took over at Sheffield Wednesday in 2015, and ten years later, his ownership is arguably at its lowest point in terms of popularity now.
While the Owls had flirted with a play-off push this season, it seems Sheffield Wednesday will have to settle for midtable mediocrity now after an inconsistent run of results.
Still, at least fans are pleased with Danny Rohl as manager, for the way he has got the team playing (on a good day). Indeed, there’s no denying the Owls are improving rapidly under the young German coach.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points |
| 9 |  |
34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 48 |
| 10 |  Norwich |
34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 47 |
| 11 |  Millwall |
34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 45 |
| 12 |  Sheffield Wednesday |
34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 45 |
| 13 |  Middlesbrough |
33 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 51 | 45 | 6 | 44 |
| 14 |  QPR |
34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 40 | 43 | -3 | 44 |
But, Chansiri’s tenure is one that has been plagued by financial mismanagement, broken promises, and a perceived lack of ambition. What’s worse, the man himself has a tendency to react bitterly whenever his management is questioned.
Chansiri has often hinted he would happily sell the club, especially in light of supporter unrest, but no such sale appears to be anywhere near happening right now. This precarious situation has led fans to protest regularly against his ownership, and there doesn’t seem to be any happy ending in sight at the moment.
But, for Sheffield Wednesday to truly push on and achieve success, there is widespread belief that Chansiri needs to make way. Whether he will give up the reins or not remains to be seen, but the pressure from the fans will surely make this a very uncomfortable situation before it gets any better.
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