'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"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 dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve 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 multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, 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 individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking 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 potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
