'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization 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 followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football 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 maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
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 Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, 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."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
