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Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.

In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.

The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.

The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.

"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.

"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."

Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status

The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.

Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.

Authority's Position

Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.

"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."

Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."

But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.

"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.

"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."

'Errors may undo substantial development'

The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.

"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.

"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.

"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football 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 maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."

Elite Division Worries

Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator 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 economic entity of the elite league.

"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."

Partisan Associations

The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.

The official donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.

"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."