'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the Championship side this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there 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 numerous instances.
"I completely understand 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 followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is '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 requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
