'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
