'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, 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 football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
