'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
