'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the Championship side recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The official provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
