'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the football team in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"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 been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. 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, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
