'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the football team recently.
The team 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.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern '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 considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
