'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The team's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri 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 interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
