'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
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 not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable 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 been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, 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 acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
