'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman 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.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for 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 fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest 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 gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, 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 fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
