'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest 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 the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, 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 long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
