New Sheffield Wednesday owner David Storch has pledged to give the club’s Supporters’ Trust a place on the board, insisting their efforts during the campaign against former owner Dejphon Chansiri played a major role in bringing about change at Hillsborough.
Speaking via video call at the trust’s AGM earlier this week, Storch said he wanted fans to have a genuine voice within the club and stressed that the trust’s contribution would never be overlooked. The group had been heavily involved in organising protests, boycotts and demonstrations throughout the season.
Storch explained that offering the trust a board position was a significant decision that reflected how much he valued supporter input. He said supporters would remain central to the club’s future, describing Sheffield Wednesday as “their club” and promising a board that would be active, engaged and representative of the fanbase.
Interim trust vice-chair Jake Lee later clarified that no formal proposal has yet been presented and that any potential agreement would first need approval from trust members. He stated that the role, if accepted, would be unpaid, non-executive and unrelated to football matters, with the focus instead placed on improving communication and supporter engagement.
Lee said the trust sees the proposal as an opportunity to strengthen links between fans and the club, while also helping ensure supporter opinions are heard by both the ownership and executive leadership. He added that the trust would work alongside any future Fan Advisory Board to promote meaningful engagement across the wider fanbase.
He also stressed that the trust would not interfere in team affairs, but would instead concentrate on making Sheffield Wednesday a stronger club for supporters, families and the local community.
According to Lee, the finer details of any proposal still need to be reviewed to ensure it aligns with the trust’s principles and constitution before members decide whether to accept it.
Addressing concerns about the trust potentially losing its independence, Lee acknowledged why some supporters may feel uneasy after recent events at the club. However, he argued that, if properly structured, board representation could actually provide the highest level of accountability supporters can realistically achieve within a football club.
He added that being involved in discussions before decisions are made could prove more beneficial than simply criticising them afterwards, while insisting the trust’s commitment to representing supporters’ interests would remain unchanged.
