'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding 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 missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" 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 world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
