'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri 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.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, 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: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," 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 certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly 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 voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'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 stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money 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 adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
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'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
