'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate 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 reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether '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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
