'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the football team recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner 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 interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The official contributed funds to government minister the politician's 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 select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
