'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities 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 are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football 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 take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to 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 minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
