'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, 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 summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The official donated money to government minister 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
