'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record 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 coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives 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 high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
