'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
