'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, 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 followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for 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 previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
