Chris Waddle says Sheffield Wednesday's new owners are making a clear break from the Chansiri era by inviting former players back around the club. He says the relationship with ex-players is being rebuilt, not left to drift. Wednesday have not been in the top flight for 26 years and counting, and their last true period of glory came in the early 1990s, when they won the League Cup, finished third in the top flight and played in two more cup finals.
How the new ownership is changing the mood
Waddle's strongest point is simple enough. "Chansiri lost touch with the ex-players. He wanted to wipe that history away because he wasn't the chairman at the time," he told BBC Sport. "The new owners have come in and want to embrace it. Hopefully, and luckily, I think we've got the right guys in charge."
That is a significant shift for a club where history still matters to supporters. Waddle also said several ex-players have been invited to attend a meeting to help rebuild relationships, with that meeting believed to be taking place in the next couple of weeks.
The practical side matters here. If Wednesday want the club's former players visible again, this is how it starts, through invitations, meetings and a more open attitude around Hillsborough rather than through slogans.
Why the link with former players matters
Waddle's view is that Wednesday supporters have waited long enough for something better. "It's about time that Wednesday fans have some good times," he said. "They kept singing and kept travelling. That'll always be there."
He also pointed to the club's history as part of the reason the bond matters. The early 1990s remain the last real high point, and 26 years outside the top flight is a long time for a club with that past.
The new owners have not repaired everything just by opening the door, and nobody sensible would claim that. But inviting ex-players back, and doing it now, is a cleaner start than Wednesday have had for years. For a fanbase that has carried the club through the lean years, that feels like the right first move.
Waddle summed up the hope plainly, saying he hopes Wednesday will one day be back in the Premier League, "and that's what they deserve". The next step is the meeting with former players, expected in the next couple of weeks.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →