'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is 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 enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer 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 regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking 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 immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, 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 high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
