'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale 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 next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [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 type of partisan engagement."
