'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week 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 should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The official provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
