'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body 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 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 concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
