'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified 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 commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The chairman donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
