'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, 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 football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" 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 football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
