'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, 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 regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
