'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, 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 completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
