'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri 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 prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
