'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, 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 demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private 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 Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
