'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the Championship side this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was 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 if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
