Press Statement: Closure of the North Stand at Hillsborough Stadium

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust Responds to North Stand Closure

The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust wishes to address the recent decision by Sheffield City Council to close the North Stand at Hillsborough Stadium for an indefinite period. We recognise this development will be of great concern to thousands of Sheffield Wednesday fans, the local community, and businesses in the Hillsborough area.

Our representatives attended the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) meetings that led to this outcome, and we fully support the council’s position. The safety of supporters must always be the top priority and cannot be compromised.

It is our understanding that concerns regarding rust and drainage on the North Stand were first raised in November 2021. The club received a detailed specification and schedule for remedial works in March 2022 and solicited tenders for completion that same year. A contractor was recommended, but the necessary repairs did not proceed.

We observe with regret that the club’s owner expressed reluctance to invest in the required works, citing potential future plans to relocate the stadium. Further, in 2025, a secondary structural report was commissioned from a company in Bangkok. Available evidence suggests that this company did not visit Hillsborough, nor did it conduct an independent assessment of the stand’s condition. The report was subsequently rejected by SAG for not meeting acceptable safety standards.

We note with alarm that the owner was seemingly prepared to risk fans safety by commissioning a report from a small local Bangkok company with no experience in this type of work in the UK. That this should be being considered at this particular stadium with our history is inconceivable.

The club was repeatedly warned that, without completion of the specified repairs, the North Stand would not be permitted to open for the 2025/26 season. Deadlines were missed, and only in June 2025 did the Board approve the necessary works after being informed once again of the stand’s closure.

Safety professionals have confirmed a risk of structural failure exists and, while unlikely, consequences could be catastrophic. The Trust supports SAG’s decision as the only responsible course of action.

We are deeply disappointed by this situation, which we believe was entirely avoidable. Responsibility for these events lies with the club’s owner, not with club officials or the SAG group.

The Trust will continue to advocate for accountability and transparency. We urge football authorities and the wider media to scrutinise this matter further in the hope of safeguarding the future of our club and community.

We thank our members and all supporters for their understanding and resilience at this difficult time.

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust