'We are going to be a part of 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 investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee 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 coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
