'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force 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 reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past 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 protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" 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 remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations 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 been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
