'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport 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 take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body 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 economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
