Credit: Imago / Ali Richards on X

Dan Godfrey

Sun 27 April 2025 9:54, UK

Portsmouth supporters know what it’s like to see their club ragged about by suspicious owners and controlling board figures.

Pompey have been put through the mill more than most, and fans can therefore fully empathise with those who have gone through it since.

Sheffield Wednesday and the Blues played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday (26 April), with the away fans in carnival mood having secured Championship safety on Easter Monday.

Wednesday have been safe for some time, but their supporters have their minds elsewhere as they protest their owner, Dejphon Chansiri.

Portsmouth fans stand in solidarity with Sheffield Wednesday

Portsmouth fans have enjoyed their first season back in the Championship in terms of the away fixtures, the new grounds and the feeling of just mixing it with the bigger boys.

Not so much the relegation battle, the heavy away defeats nor the silly errors, but on the whole, Pompey have done enough this season to beat the drop and can be fully commended for that.

Supporters therefore had the opportunity to kick back for Wednesday away on Saturday, and were treated to Harvey Blair’s first goal for the Blues as he equalised in the first half to earn a welcome point.

Before, during and after the contest, home fans protested their side’s ownership – namely Chansiri, the Thai businessman who took control of the Owls from former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric back in 2015.

It has been a tricky decade for supporters in the north side of Sheffield ever since, as they continually find themselves at loggerheads with the owner – who often has a tendency to respond in kind.

As shown via supporter @diaryofadetour on X (26 April), Pompey fans were seen letting Wednesday supporters know they are backed in their protests against the regime.

Pompey have overcome major adversity to get where they are

Portsmouth supporters have seen it all since they lifted the FA Cup and competed in Europe in 2008.

They reached a second FA Cup final in 2010 while under administration, relegated from the Premier League with a points deduction. They would receive another in the Championship, dropping them into League One.

Pompey fielded a team entirely made up of teenagers and a first-team coach in a senior match in 2012, and were later sent spiralling into League Two.

Winding-up petitions, protests, unpaid wages and players on one-month rolling deals. It was a huge mess, caused by greed and lack of accountability.

It happens far too often to clubs, and the league governing bodies simply must do better to protect their member clubs.

Sheffield Wednesday supporters will win their battle.