Joel Pickersgill

Housing Professional | Solicitor (non-practicing)|. Father, Husband, long suffering #swfc fan. Views are my own

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@IanSWFC80 👏👏 have to arrange a catch up before a game next season, mate 🦉🦉

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@foxhillowl @WTIDPOD Same for me. The renew button is greyed out

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Wanted to take some time to reflect on a day I’ve been dreaming of for months.

Saturday was perfect. Will never be able to express how grateful I am for the warm welcome the @SWFC fans gave my family and me. The sun shone down on our wonderful club on Saturday.

It was the experience of a lifetime to enjoy the moment with you all…. To share our new crest designed by the incredible local agency Peter and Paul…. To share the news that after an incredible collaborative effort between my team, the @EFL and BTG we will start next season on zero points!…. To introduce you to our incredible new CEO, David Bruce…. And to witness over 30,000 of my newest friends singing for 99 minutes straight as our Owls closed out such a difficult season with a win.

I’d like to further highlight how grateful I am to the @EFL for their diligence and approach in working with us to ratify all issues and achieve our target of closing by 1 May.

It takes a village; but without the commitment and tenacity of Asher Simons, Clive Betts MP and James Silverwood in particular, we would not be where we are today.

It’s been an extremely emotional 48 hours for me after a long process, but now the focus is already completely on action. We are proceeding ahead immediately on all fronts and we will update you, the fans, as we go.

You are the reason Michael and I are here, the reason we have fallen in love with this city and this club. We will do everything in our power to ensure we don’t let you down.

David

#wawaw #uto #swfc

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

Big day tomorrow... 🥂

[Rob Staton @robstaton]

Understand the Sheffield Wednesday takeover is done, with an official announcement expected tomorrow. The news #SWFC fans have been waiting for. A new dawn at Hillsborough.

[Sheffield Wednesday @swfc]

Our final half time challenge of the season takes place on Saturday!

We're looking for two competitors, with the winner on the day receiving a signed shirt!

Like, repost and follow @MrVegas_Casino to be in with a chance 🤞

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

The man who wants to rescue Sheffield Wednesday, American businessman David Storch, says he has been “informed that a 15-point penalty is set to be imposed at the start of next season” in League One. The outgoing owner Dejphon Chansiri should hang his head in shame at the damage he has inflicted on Sheffield Wednesday. He can’t have a conscience. Otherwise he’d accept a compromise on bid price. 

The EFL should have been tougher with Chansiri quicker. The FA should remember it is supposed to be custodians of the game and protect clubs. The importance of an Independent Football Regulator, much delayed by vested interests, is highlighted again by events at Wednesday. 

At the moment, the people being punished at Wednesday are fans, players, staff and the man who wants to save them. Shameful situation engulfing a historic club which could have been avoided with stronger leadership by the authorities. And Chansiri locating some principles. #SWFC

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

💯% this.

Make it make sense how we are still being punished because we cannot pay the man 25p in the £1 who got us into this, whilst the @EFL watched over.

The fans have suffered enough.

If it happens to us, it could happen to any other club.

#fairdealforwednesday

[Grant Roberts @GrantR_1867]

The EFL has sanctioned Sheffield Wednesday consistently since 2018.

Over that period, the club has been hit with multiple transfer embargoes spanning nearly a decade. By October 2025, Wednesday were under six simultaneous embargoes — the most any club has ever faced.

On top of that, the club has suffered repeated points deductions. A -12 deduction in 2020/21 severely damaged recruitment and momentum going into that season. Although it was later reduced to -6 on appeal, the damage had already been done — those points ultimately proved the difference between survival and relegation to League One.

In 2025, the situation worsened further. The club received:
•-12 points for entering administration, after the former owner failed to meet basic financial obligations such as paying wages and bills on time
•A further -6 point deduction, again due to the owner’s failure to uphold his responsibilities

This is not a case of a club gaining an unfair advantage — quite the opposite. The club has been placed at a significant competitive disadvantage for years due to sustained mismanagement.

Sheffield Wednesday has endured one of the most damaging ownership periods a club of its size is likely to experience. The former owner’s approach has not only harmed the club financially but also created a toxic environment for staff and supporters alike.

And yet, despite this, there is now an expectation that the same owner should be repaid — while the club continues to face further punishment.

How can that be justified?

The new ownership group should not be penalised for the failures of the previous regime. They should be given the opportunity to restore stability to a club that has lacked it for nearly 26 years.

Imposing further sanctions — such as another -15 point deduction, spending caps, business plan restrictions, and transfer limitations — would only deepen the damage. It risks condemning the club to yet another relegation and prolonging the cycle of instability.

At some point, there has to be recognition that continued punishment is no longer corrective — it is excessive.

The club, its staff, and its supporters deserve the chance to move forward.

#FairDealForWednesday

@storchyowl

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Please see my statement attached #FairDealForWednesday

[David Storch @storchyowl]

Another amazing week in Sheffield with so many special moments. Every time I come here, I fall more in love with this city and its people, who have been so warm and welcoming.

Great interactive Q&A with the @swfc staff at Hillsborough; their loyalty is admirable. We will restore joy and pride to the offices as we create a culture of excellence.

I've been impressed with the strong civic leadership I've seen from Mayor @olivercoppard and @katejosephs. I have further enjoyed building a great relationship with Clive Betts. Also loved my time with Sheffield Wednesday Legend, @HirstyD9 who still has so much passion for the Owls.

My team and I are working on so many important initiatives so that we can hit the ground running once we take over this wonderful club. Most notably; improvements to Hillsborough and the design of our kit and crest (stay tuned!😉).

Had the opportunity to host a lunch at the outstanding new restaurant in the City Centre; Maria. You guys have to try it! We were joined by @LordBlunkett who enlightened us with his many stories spanning 75 years of genuine love for the club through the good times and not so.

I finished my visit, stopping in at the Broomhill Tavern, relaxing over a pint with some new friends watching our match against Stoke City.

I'd like to wish everybody a very Happy Easter weekend as we continue into next week heads down on this journey to rebuild this incredible football club.

See you soon,
David

PS. was also lucky enough to find 2 vintage shirts @RagParade ... Love it!

#wawaw #uto #swfc

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, their famous name woven into the tapestry of the game. Formed in 1867, elected to the Football League in 1892, founder members of the Premier League, four times champions of England, three times winners of the FA Cup, and the League Cup once. Such honours may be far back in history but Wednesday remain a powerful force in many lives, in families, communities, in Sheffield and beyond.

It would be devastating to Wednesday supporters and deeply damaging to the reputation of English football if Wednesday lost their membership of the EFL because of the behaviour of an owner in Dejphon Chansiri who passed initial EFL ownership tests, was welcomed (let’s not forget), but turned out to be shamelessly irresponsible. Wednesday fans fear the club's existence might be at risk if the EFL imposes further punishments and restrictions that deter potential buyers.

Stronger oversight of owners is clearly required and the EFL and PL did tighten their rules in 2023. The new Independent Football Regulator will introduce a proper licensing system for clubs and better oversight of owners. Unfortunately, the IFR did not come into force early enough to prevent Wednesday's downward slide under Chansiri.

Wednesday are currently in administration and threatened with further EFL sanctions – a 15-point deduction for next season. This season's 18-point deduction all but guaranteed relegation from the Championship (confirmed on Feb 22). The League applies sanctions as punishment for debts and also as a deterrent to other clubs/owners.

The EFL emphasises it is working with all parties to “try and find a solution that can see Sheffield Wednesday continue as a member of the League....but ultimately we have to also apply the terms of the League’s insolvency policy…which seeks to balance the interests, not only of Sheffield Wednesday, but also of the other 71 clubs”.

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust, fighting hard for their club’s survival, has now released a copy of the EFL’s insolvency policy and argues that it gives the League, in the Trust’s words, “absolute discretion when determining how to deal with clubs experiencing an insolvency event”.

The Trust argues that “…further punitive sanctions risk undermining the very factors the EFL states it must consider - including the effect on supporters, the impact on the local community and the wider credibility of the league itself.

“Sheffield Wednesday supporters are not seeking advantage over other clubs. It is entirely right that all EFL clubs should be treated fairly and consistently. That principle must include Sheffield Wednesday that has already suffered enormously during a decade in which the EFL’s own regulatory oversight failed to prevent the damage that unfolded.

“We urge the EFL to apply its own guidance responsibly and ensure that the focus now is on allowing the club to recover, stabilise and move forward under new ownership. Sheffield Wednesday supporters have suffered enough.” #SWFC #EFL @SWFCTrust

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

Absolutely correct. The @EFL are complicit and appear to be seeking to fetter the discretion they have. Shocking. #swfc

[Mirror Football @MirrorFootball]

💬 "No-one wants handouts, no-one wants special treatment. All that is wanted is a chance to compete on a level playing field."

🦉 The EFL are complicit in Sheffield Wednesday's demise and draconian sanctions could KILL club

✍️ @jjwhaling

https://t.co/eB1cf4SjNx

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@adam3oxley @SWFCTrust @footballheaven Any idea why the COO of the @EFL spoke about our membership in the competition? Why bring that up when it wasn’t mentioned before? Seems unnecessary and only designed to cause concern amongst fans heading into a weekend. #swfc

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@maitlis @jonsopel hi both. Would you be able to recommend any good books which give an insight into Trump’s Presidency please. There are lots out there but unsure which are the best. (I’ve read Unpresidented 👌🏻). Thanks.

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@virginmedia will be leaving you after 12 years with you as you aren’t prepared to look after existing customers with a comparable package to those you are offering new customers. Such poor customer service. I’ll take my custom elsewhere

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@theterracelife hi. Do you still do custom mugs with kits on request? I want a SWFC one which you no longer have online. Cheers

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@RestIsFootball @GaryLineker @alanshearer hi. Could you highlight this is your q&a this week. Doubt it will get much media attention as we aren’t in the Prem but this needs highlighting as a 150 year + football club is in serious trouble. #swfc

[Alex Miller @AlexMiller91]

🚨EXC: Dejphon Chansiri unleashes astonishing call to 'negative fans' to pledge £2m in next days to 'save their club'. 'Cash flow issue' at S6. HMRC not paid. Player/staff ££ due today could go unpaid. Multi-window embargo concern.

Full story👇

https://t.co/RIvuZVkjLf

#SWFC🦉

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@ZARA_Care hi. Can you tell me where an order placed on 7th Oct is please? I’ve been asked to ‘kindly wait’ 48 hours over and over to allow #Evri to deliver. This is really poor service

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

This 👇🏻👇🏻

A chairman without any strategy or plan and charging ridiculous prices for match day tickets. #swfc

[Alex Miller @AlexMiller91]

Wednesday fans chanting against Chansiri and Xisco, for Marvin Johnson. This spiralling decay in mood has taken place just 117 days on from Wembley.

A masterclass in how not to build on success.

#SWFC🦉

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@DerbyCC I’ve looked at your website and looked in the bins and can’t see why they were refused. If a collection is refused then presumably information about why is captured? Sticking a generic note on the bin doesn’t help.
Can you tell me specifically what it was so I can remove.

[Joel Pickersgill @joel_pickers]

@DerbyCC Hi. Neither of our blue bins were collected today and a note put on both bins that they couldn’t be emptied. I’m at a loss about what items cannot be recycled (after checking your website). Can you help please so I can ensure they are emptied next time.