'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, 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."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell 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 individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday 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 errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested 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 take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The official provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
