'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, 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 summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body 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 economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, 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 informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
