'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to 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 the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
