'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season 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 earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game 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 there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
