'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, 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 next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
