'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year 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.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
