'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
