'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football 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 brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League 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 considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
