'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed 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blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force 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 reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," 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.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding 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 type of partisan engagement."
