'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - 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 certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
