'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football 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 certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact 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 elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, 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 ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
