Exclusive - Dejphon Chansiri proving to be the ‘right man’ for Sheffield Wednesday says Milan Mandaric

Chansiri agreed a £37.5m deal to buy the Owls from Mandaric a year ago today, subject to Football League approval.

The takeover was rubber-stamped a month later and since then Wednesday have been transformed.

A substantial outlay on both transfers – the most recent being the £3m or so spent on Gary Hooper last week – and wages has helped Carlos Carvalhal build a squad that now looks a good bet to claim a place in the play-offs.

For Mandaric, the sight of a revitalised Wednesday riding high in the Championship is hugely satisfying. He rescued the Yorkshire outfit from the threat of administration in December, 2010, before taking the Owls to promotion from League One a little under 18 months later.

Speaking exclusively to The Yorkshire Post from Slovenia, Mandaric said: “It is great to see what Mr Chansiri has done. One of the most important segments of leaving the club was that it would be left in safe hands. Especially after what happened at Portsmouth.

“I left that club in great shape. It was fine for a year and then it all went very wrong. I could not have had that happen at Sheffield Wednesday, a club I still have a lot of feeling for.

“It was also important to the supporters that the club build on what we had achieved together. We had to have someone who would improve the club, on and off the field.

“We had a lot of other people interested in the club but, once I met Mr Chansiri, I knew this man would not let anything bad happen. He is a tremendous guy.”

Portsmouth’s financial collapse and subsequent tumble down the divisions in the wake of Mandaric selling to Alexandre Gaydamak in 2006 was uppermost in his mind during those attempts to sell Wednesday.

The former Pompey and Leicester City chief met many interested parties, including Massimo Cellino before the Italian locked on to buying Leeds United.

A deal was struck with Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov during the summer of 2014 only to break down within a couple of months. That opened the door to Chansiri, whose purchase price included wiping out the club’s debts.

His first pledge on taking charge was to bring Premier League football back to Hillsborough by the club’s 150th anniversary year of 2017.

Carvalhal, appointed last summer, may yet deliver on that promise 12 months early with Wednesday unbeaten since the turn of the year and occupying a play-off place.

The Owls are also eyeing further progress in the FA Cup after claiming two top-flight scalps when knocking Arsenal and Newcastle United out of the Capital One Cup earlier in the season to leave Mandaric enthusing about his successor’s impact since taking the reins.

The 77-year-old, in Slovenia at the moment as part of his role running Prva liga leaders Olimpija Ljubljana, said: “If you remember, I did ask for our supporters to help Mr Chansiri out and to trust him.

“They have done an unbelievable job so far and he has returned that trust and support to them. That is important, because it is a two-way street. He is a good chairman and a good man. He loves Sheffield, I can see that. We meet quite often and also talk on the phone.

“We last met 12 days ago in London and talked about all sorts of things. He takes my opinion on board, as I am always here if he wants me to help.

“Mr Chansiri is desperate to take Sheffield Wednesday into the Premier League. And I saw from the very start that here was a man who could make it happen.

“When trying to find a buyer for the club, I had a lot of experience of meeting a lot of people. But there was no doubt in my mind that Mr Chansiri was the right man to take Sheffield Wednesday forward.

“I do miss Sheffield. Absolutely. And those amazing supporters. But I am happy to see the club doing so well. It was so important to get the right buyer for such a great club.”

Carvalhal, meanwhile, takes his side to League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town tomorrow in the fourth round of the Cup and admits to being wary about becoming the victim of a giant-killing.

“I know the team very well because my staff have done their homework,” said the Owls chief about the conquerors of Cardiff City in the last round. “I have seen three of their games and know it will not be easy. I have prepared for Shrewsbury in the same way as for Reading and Leeds.”

Wednesday beat Fulham in the last round and Carvalhal admits to being a big fan of the Cup.

“It has a big tradition,” he added. “I remember when I was a kid and we used to watch the games on TV. We will do our best.

“We are in two competitions at this moment. Our main competition is the Championship, that is the reality. But that doesn’t mean we are not interested in trying to do our best in the Cup.”

Chansiri’s first year: Page 26