'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations 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 multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
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 former ideological connection [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 form of political activity."
