'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and this week 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 require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances 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 next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
