Speaking on BBC Radio Sheffield’s Sport Heaven podcast (link here), former Sheffield Wednesday owner Milan Mandarić revealed that he is returning to England this week — and it’s not for a holiday.
He’s coming back to see if he can help save the club.
Let that sink in.
“What’s happening is not right…”
Mandarić — who owned Wednesday from 2010 to 2014 and sold the club to Dejphon Chansiri — didn’t hold back.
“He took the wrong direction, and advice, and now the club is where it is today. And who is suffering the most are those loyal supporters.”
He criticised Chansiri’s ownership directly, saying he fears the club could go out of business if nothing changes. This isn’t fan speculation — it’s coming from the man who once steadied the ship during one of the club’s darkest chapters.
Mandarić Feels a Responsibility
You can hear it in his voice — he sounds angry, heartbroken, and determined.
He admitted he’s stayed in contact with people inside the club and feels a sense of responsibility for how things have unravelled since selling it in 2015.
“I have my ex-manager who was there, Paul Aldridge, and John Redgate, who all worked for me – they know what’s going on. And I want to see what could be a possibility to take over that club.”
He may not have foreseen what was to come, but he clearly cares. The fact that an 86-year-old man is flying in just to see what he can do speaks volumes.
There’s no guarantee he’s looking to buy the club outright. It could be that he wants to help line up a buyer, front a consortium, or use his contacts to facilitate a deal. Either way, any involvement from someone with real football experience and emotional investment is a positive step.
f Milan Mandarić is serious about making something happen, then I’m all for it.
He knows football. He knows how to build a structure. He’s run clubs in the Premier League. And crucially, he understands the importance of letting football people run the football side of things.
Imagine him working alongside Danny Röhl (if we can convince him to stay), giving him the tools, freedom, and backing to build something with stability and ambition. That alone could keep us in the Championship and give us a chance to push on again.
Honestly, this club doesn’t need miracles. It needs competence.
And Milan Mandarić, for all his quirks, has done this before.
He might not be the long-term future — but he could be the one who kickstarts the change we so badly need.
If he can broker a deal, bring the right people in, or simply push Chansiri out the door, then Wednesday fans will owe him a debt of gratitude — again.
Let’s hope he’s serious.
Because right now?
We need someone to be.
