'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman 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 interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, 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 coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official 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 past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
