'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
