'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, 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 iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated 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 all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern '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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
