'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was 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 significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable 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 recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
