'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "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 the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing 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
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, 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 elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
