The person behind Sheffield Wednesday’s mascot Barney the Owl has broken his silence after taking part in a protest against the club’s owner Dejphon Chansiri on the pitch during last weekend’s match against Queen’s Park Rangers.
Chansiri has faced repeated calls to sell the club amid widespread fan disapproval, with the Thai businessman failing to see players and staff paid on time for a number of months.
Sheffield Wednesday have already been penalised by the EFL over past financial mismanagement and failure to pay employees at the club, and will remain under a transfer ban until January 2027.
But despite sanctions, there appears to be no let up at Hillsborough, with fans protesting Chansiri’s ownership since the start of the season.
At the club’s Championship opener against Leicester City, scores of fans took to their seats five minutes after kick-off as part of a co-ordinated walk-in, which was applauded by the opposition supporters in solidarity.
A banner was flown over the King Power Stadium calling for Chansiri to leave the club, and flags were later unfurled emblazoned with slogans including ‘SWFC For Sale – Enough Is Enough’, ‘Chansiri Out’, and ‘Chansiri = Poison! Keep Fighting SWFC’.
Sheffield Wednesday’s mascot Barney the Owl joined fan protests against their club’s owner
The mascot proudly waved a scarf bearing the colours fans have been using for their protests
But dissidence against Chansiri within the club itself went one step further on Saturday, as Barney the Owl donned a scarf in the black and yellow colours fans have been using to protest the owner.
The mascot wore the scarf before the match, parading up and down the sidelines waving the colours to further get his point across.
Taking to social media after the match, the Barney the Owl account broke ranks and explained why they had undertaken the protest.
‘I’m a fan first, and an employee second – this is my 20th season working for the club I love, starting when I was 18 years old,’ the statement began. ‘I stand with the fans. Without them, there is no Sheffield Wednesday.
‘I’m match-day staff only, paid the same as stewards. I’ve had no pay issues personally (so far), but I don’t do this for the money – I do it for the fans and for the badge.
‘Since this isn’t my main job, I’m in a position where I can speak out – many others aren’t. Please continue to show empathy and respect for ALL staff who can’t.
Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri has been urged to sell by fans amid financial tumult
Fans marked their first match of the season with a full-throated protest versus Leicester City
‘It’s been difficult watching dedicated colleagues grow demoralised by the silence – the lack of clear communication about their pay, roles, and the club’s future is taking a real toll.
‘Like many others, I believe a change in ownership is the only way to safeguard the long-term future of the club – and the immediate short-term stability of the staff who work here.’
The account stressed that the words were theirs alone, rather than those of the club
As per the Telegraph, the club is believed to have made assurances to players that they were due to receive their salaries on Monday – however, should they miss that payment date, they may yet be forced to go another month without payment.
