'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.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: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is '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 compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [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 type of partisan engagement."
