Continuing our extensive Q&A feature with the Owls chairman, today Mr Chansiri addresses the subject of player recruitment:
Who is involved with player acquisition and how does the process work? What involvement if any does Doyen Sports have at the club?
We have an extensive scouting network that spans the world of football and advisors that make up our transfer committee, which has evolved over the last two years as I said it would.
During my first year, the committee was in-house, together with external advisors, but this system did not have the desired effect. Almost all the recruitment was delivered by the head coach and external advisors. As a result, this formula was taken into the second year and continues to the present.
Doyen Sports are amongst my advisors but we have others, who form part of a process of player recruitment that mirrors that of many clubs worldwide. I must stress that Doyen have absolutely no influence on the day to day running of Sheffield Wednesday, nor do any of my advisors. Doyen have also never invested money into our players and do not own a single shareholding.
In the first instance, and to be clear, all our potential transfer targets are identified by the head coach. It is the responsibility of Carlos and his staff to present players that he believes will improve our squad.
The strategy has always been to have two players for each position. This covers all options and ensures competition for places in the team is strong as the players challenge each other.
Our committee will discuss in detail the prospect of any player signing for Sheffield Wednesday. There are many things to consider on a player fitting into the structure of our squad and our club as a whole so it is important that every aspect is scrutinised to reach the right conclusion. We must also assess the player as an investment and his long term value to our club.
Carlos will present his targets on a basis of preference. So if we cannot achieve the first target, we move on to the second and so on. Of course, it may well be that our advisors suggest another player on occasion in discussion – this is completely normal – and the head coach will say yes or no, the final say on any player’s suitability rests with him.
Once a particular target has been identified and it is agreed to move to the next stage, negotiations begin with the respective club and/or player. Carlos takes a step back at this point because all financial aspects of any transfer are decided by myself as owner and chairman.
Negotiations can change all the time, of course, and it may be that I will ask Carlos his opinion whether or not to proceed sometimes, we will discuss certain conditions, length of contract for example, and all this enables me to move forward one way or the other.
I will do my level best to successfully recruit the targets identified but once that negotiation process begins, the road is not always smooth. Some we will win, some we will lose, but the common denominator is that every deal must be the right one for Sheffield Wednesday. The cost is not the most important thing – it is the ability to help us to promotion which is paramount.
In performance terms, of course the recruitment of some players will be more successful than others. Again, this is normal and true of any club in any division in the world. Not one coach, chairman or collective can predict the key elements of form, injury or the ability to settle into the club or the city.
One thing is certain - each and every signing has been made, and will continue to be made, with the best intentions for Sheffield Wednesday at all times.