'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football 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 such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, 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."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in 2020.
The official contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
