'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, 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 Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, 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 chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, 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 organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled 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 adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
