'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
