Owls fans raise money for club's unpaid staff

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust has raised £5,000 for staff who have yet to receive their wages amid the club's financial woes.

Players and staff were not paid on time or in full in either May or June and as a result the Championship club has been placed under transfer embargo.

Owner Dejphon Chansiri, who has offered no official explanation for the current crisis, has reportedly reached a deal to sell the club.

The club has been contacted for comment.

The situation at the club has been described as "shocking" and "not tolerable" by the head of the Professional Footballers' Association, Maheta Molango.

Ian Bennett, chairman of the supporters' trust, described the situation as "appalling" and said the money would be distributed to the club's "lower-paid staff".

Mr Bennett said fans were worried about the club's future and were working with the Trussell Trust on how to distribute the money.

"We're hoping we can announce something and get it to the people that deserve it," he said.

"Wednesday are a massive, massive fan base and part of the community and the people who work at the club are part of that.

"The ones who are really affected are the ones who are lower paid and that's who we are going to try and help to prove that we're all in it together."

Mr Bennett said he had been into the club shop and told one staff member who worked there about their efforts to raise money and "she was in tears".

"How can this happen in this day and age where someone has got people working for nothing?" he added.

"Staff are so upset because they feel part of the club, it's not just their job.

"It's appalling and shouldn't have happened."

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said staff needed money "to pay their mortgage and food bills" and described the situation as "dire".

"The club is important to the life of our city so the idea that Wednesday could cease to exist because of a bad owner... I think is absolutely appalling."

Mr Chansiri said in a previous statement he took "full responsibility for being unable to fulfil my current obligations".

He said last month: "I also understand the frustrations of everyone at this difficult time.

"I can only apologise to our people once again and assure you all that I am doing everything I can, every minute of every day, to ensure the situation is resolved in the best possible way for now and the future."