'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, 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 supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days 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 submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, 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 party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
