Darren Moore, the manager who guided Sheffield Wednesday to promotion in 2023, says that former owner Dejphon Chansiri blocked four key signings in the summer of 2023. The blocked deals involved players who are now in the Premier League and the Championship, and Moore claims the interference contributed to his departure from Hillsborough.
Moore’s Departure
Moore was the man who brought Wednesday back to the second tier, with the club winning promotion in remarkable fashion in 2023 after they overcame a 5‑1 first‑leg defeat to Peterborough in the play‑offs to reach the final – and they then beat Barnsley in stoppage time in extra‑time at Wembley. Speaking to the Wednesday Word YouTube channel, Moore revealed he had a disagreement with Chansiri over the transfer strategy, as the owner pulled the plug on four deals that would have seen the club strengthen its squad for the Championship.
Players Who Found Success Elsewhere
“I can’t reveal some of the names, but two of those players that I would’ve had are in the Premier League now, and we had them at Wednesday at the time,” Moore said. “It was a difficult time, because anyone who knows me, knows that this is the time in the off‑season where managers do their good work, so with us in the Championship, because of the football club itself, and the history, players want to play for Sheffield Wednesday.” He added that the four signings were “young lads, who would’ve been absolutely outstanding” but were rejected by the chairman, who wanted to take control of the recruitment policy at the club.
Moore explained that in League One he was left to negotiate deals, but in the Championship the players he wanted were out of contract. “They were good players, so I was going to get them in, and as I speak now, believe it or not, two are in the Premier League and two are in the Championship, and we had them there, but I wasn’t allowed to bring them in,” he said.
A Regretful Decision
The former owner’s decision to override the manager’s transfer plans has been described by Moore as “impulsive and arrogant.” He said that the lack of support from Chansiri made it “very difficult” to build a team capable of competing in the Championship. Moore left after the promotion, and he now wonders what might have been if the signings had gone through.
Looking Ahead
Sheffield Wednesday fans are keen to move beyond Chansiri’s tenure, and the club’s new owners, Arise Capital Partners, completed a takeover in May. While the club is now effectively starting again in League One, supporters remain hopeful that the new regime can restore the club’s ambition and competitiveness.
