A man who some Sheffield Wednesday supporters have accused of having too much influence at Hillsborough has been pictured with the Owls squad ahead of Saturday’s game at Millwall.
Amadeu Paixao, the Portuguese agent who is understood to be one of the closest advisers to the Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri, can be seen sat on the coaches’ table at the team’s hotel in an Instagram story update posted by the Owls full-back Liam Palmer on Friday.
It is through Paixao that Sheffield Wednesday are understood to have made several managerial and playing squad acquisitions, with mixed success.
He is thought to have strong connections with Watford, to whom Wednesday are reported to have paid around £3 million for Almen Abdi, the midfielder released by the club at the end of last season after making just 21 starts in three years, and in Germany, where Jos Luhukay was working before his ill-fated 11-month reign as Owls boss.
Wednesday’s recent recruitment has earned widespread praise, however, although it is unclear for how much of that Paixao is responsible.
Two of the early Championship leaders’ summer recruits, the already-popular centre-back Julian Börner, and another defender David Bates, were signed directly from German clubs.
Regardless, it does seem unusual for someone in Paixao’s role to be so closely involved with the team.