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Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has stated.

Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.

The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.

The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.

"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.

"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."

Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation

The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.

Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.

Authority's Position

The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.

"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."

Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."

But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.

"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.

"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."

'Mistakes could erase significant advances'

The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.

"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.

"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.

"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."

Elite Division Worries

Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.

"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."

Political Connections

The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.

The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.

"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."