'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the football team this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly 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 voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. 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 advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
