🔗 Share this article Sheffield Wednesday Deals with a 'Significant Problem', Says Independent Regulator 'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared. In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls. The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side in recent days. The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month. "Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained. "The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met fan representatives. "Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed." Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties. Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer. Official's Viewpoint Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases. "I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters." When asked if 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 reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will." But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners. "The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work 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 the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects." Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor this season 'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes' The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level. "The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned. "And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going. "There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, 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." Premier League Concerns The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division. "Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence." Ideological Links The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020. The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. "I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated. "I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."