'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing 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 provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
