Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday’s owners have made the top five, as have those at Brighton, Wigan and Huddersfield.
The results from HITC Sport’s poll looking at the Championship’s best owners from 2016 are in. But did your club’s main man make it into the top five?
5. Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan
Wigan Athletic’s Dave Whelan has been voted as the Championship’s fifth best owner of 2016. The 80-year-old is no longer the chairman but still works as Wigan’s’ president. After the club’s promotion back to the second tier, they perhaps somewhat controversially parted company with Gary Caldwell after a slow start to the season. Nevertheless, that does not appear to have dampened the owner’s reputation amongst fans.
4. Huddersfield Town
Despite David Wagner’s unspectacular start to life with Huddersfield Town, the board were willing to back him to bring him a large number of new signings in during the summer. And that faith has paid off as Huddersfield currently sit in the play-off spots in the Championship and appear to be well in contention to challenge for promotion via Wembley at the very least.
3. Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion Chairman Tony Bloom alongside Gus Poyet
After failing in the play-offs last season, Brighton’s owners may have perhaps considered approaching another manager to help them clear that final hurdle despite the fantastic job that Chris Hughton has done. However, the Brighton board kept the faith and Hughton has delivered by taking his side towards the top of the table at the halfway stage.
2. Aston Villa
Tony Xia’s decision to buy Aston Villa was a hugely popular one amongst long-suffering Villans fans following years of decline under Randy Lerner’s control. Xia endeared himself further to Villa supporters by backing the manager in the transfer market and then going out and getting second tier expert Steve Bruce after dismissing Roberto Di Matteo.
1. Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri
Dejphon Chansiri had already become a hugely popular figure amongst Sheffield Wednesday fans by the time 2016 had rolled around, so it is no surprise that HITC Sport’s poll has seen the Sheffield Wednesday owner come out on top. His confidence has meant that there has been no speculation surrounding Carlos Carvalhal’s future, even when he has struggled, and that strategy will surely pay off in future as Wednesday are clearly building something impressive.
If a long overdue top flight return happens under his tenure, expect the Thai businessman to have the freedom of the city – or one half of it at least.
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