'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The team's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
