'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"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 challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
