'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England 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 submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, 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.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development 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 at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
