'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened 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 missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
