'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"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 been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition 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, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
