'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations 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 last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner indicated in the summer 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 spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require 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 answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri 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 maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
