'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances 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 next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The official contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership 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 parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
