'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The chairman donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
