'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
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 such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
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 five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment 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 been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit 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.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
