Independent Regulator Considers Intervention at Sheffield Wednesday
The newly appointed president of the new independent regulator, David Kogan, has expressed his concern about the delicate situation of Sheffield Wednesday, calling it a “significant problem.” Kogan, who took office on Monday, has indicated that the regulator will seek powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances. The Sheffield Wednesday is under various embargoes due to tax debts and the inability to pay players and staff on time on multiple occasions this year, including last month. Kogan met this week with four supporter groups associated with the struggling club.
The owner of Wednesday, Dejphon Chansiri, who took control in 2015, indicated during the summer his willingness to sell the club, but has not managed to finalize a deal. Several first-team players and coaches, including former manager Danny Rohl, have left Hillsborough in recent months, leaving the Owls with a reduced squad and limited coaching staff under current manager Henrik Pedersen. Sheffield Wednesday already seems to be facing a battle for survival and could receive a points deduction due to ongoing financial problems. “Clearly, Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for the EFL (English Football League) and a significant problem for football,” Kogan stated. “Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands of English football and this week we have met with Sheffield Wednesday fan groups.” Now we are looking to obtain powers, which will allow us that Sheffield Wednesday, and other clubs, be referred to us if they need to be investigated and act accordingly.“If the question is, ‘Would we ultimately intervene?’, the answer is that once we gather the evidence and know what’s going on, we will,” Kogan stated.
David Kogan
