Sheffield Wednesday 'adviser' Erik Alonso walks away citing 'forces around the club'

The Owls have no chief executive, director of football or at the moment manager, but chairman Dejphon Chansiri surrounds himself with unofficial advisers. The Spaniard's involvement only came to light late last year, although when it did, Chansiri seemed bemused to be asked about it, claiming he had been in the role for over a year.

Announcing the cutting of ties on social media, Alonso spoke of a “brief period” of involvement. It was thought part of his role was assisting in the search for a new manager.

“Due to irreconcilable differences with the club I am sorry to say I will no longer be advising Sheffield Wednesday Football Club,” he said in a statement.

“Although it was a brief period that I was assisting the club I appreciate all the messages of support from the fans and am disappointed I wasn’t able to bring success back to such a prestigious and historic club.

“Unfortunately, due to forces around the club it became untenable to continue especially as the chances of my reputation being affected became apparent.

“It was always my intention to assist a club and the owner to bring positive results on and off the pitch back to the club.

“Should things change at the club then I would be more than happy to return and bring all the force I have to restore it to where the club should be in the Premier League.”

It has been another difficult 12 months for Wednesday, docked 12 points for breaking financial fair play rules over the sale and lease-back of Hillsborough by the club to Chansiri, then seeing the punishment halved on appeal. Players were not paid on time and in full in June or November – although both times it was resolved in time to avoid a transfer embargo – and the club's Middlewood Road training ground had to be shut down in January because of a Covid-19 outbreak.

The points deduction, its knock-on effects and the financial problems caused by coronavirus have all contributed to a Championship relegation battle. The Owls are 23rd in the table, six points adrift of Derby County and Nottingham Forest, who are immediately above the relegation zone, with a game in hand on both.

They have sacked two managers – Garry Monk and Tony Pulis – already this season, and caretaker Neil Thompson has been in charge for a month, during which time they have played only four matches because of the virus. They won their first two but lost the next two, going out of the FA Cup to Premier League Everton, then a more damaging league defeat at Coventry City.

There were reports on Wednesday that former Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic and Chesterfield manager Paul Cook – a popular choice for the job after Monk's sacking in November – had rejected the chance to take over until the end of the season.

Thompson's tenure has largely coincided with the opening of the transfer window, the last chance for clubs to sign players this season. Given the uncertainty, they have so far only brought in free agents Andre Green and Sam Hutchinson. No players have been sold, although Aden Flint's loan from Cardiff City was cancelled.

Asked about Alonso's involvement in the club at the end of last year, Chansiri replied: “I'm surprised why it's just come out. He's one of my advisers who's been working with me for a year, I think. He started helping me with regards to selling players, and with commercial things. He’s just one of the advisers, nothing special.

“I know him through somebody who introduced him to me, because we were talking about sponsors and about selling players.

“He's not a shareholder. If he was a shareholder I'd need to inform the EFL.

“If I have advisers – part-time or full-time – it’s good for us, because it gives us more channels. So I’m happy.

“Erik, he is an adviser, the same as anyone else. Whoever does the most good for the club, the more I’ll listen. If Erik does good, helps me sell players and bring good players, of course I will listen more.”

Chansiri bought former chairman Milan Mandaric out for £37.5m in January 2015 and has invested huge amounts in the club, initially promising promotion by 2017 but has become increasingly unpopular with supporters. The opaqueness of how the club is run, which Alonso's involvement seems to have done little to help, is troubling.

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