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Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has announced.

During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.

The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the football team recently.

The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.

"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.

"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.

"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."

Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation

The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.

Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.

Official's Viewpoint

The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve 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 team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."

Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, 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 the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.

"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.

"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."

'Errors may undo substantial development'

The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.

"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.

"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.

"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football 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 take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."

Elite Division Worries

Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.

"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."

Partisan Associations

The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.

The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.

"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.

"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."