'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field 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 major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
