🔗 Share this article

Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.

In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.

The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side recently.

The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.

"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.

"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."

Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns

The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.

Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.

Official's Viewpoint

The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.

"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."

When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."

But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.

"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.

"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."

'Mistakes could erase significant advances'

Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.

"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.

"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.

"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, 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 risk and of course, of the immediate future."

Elite Division Worries

Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.

"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."

Ideological Links

The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.

The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.

"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.

"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."