'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
