'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, 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 owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, 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 this country. But at the same time, 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
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
