'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the football team this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest 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 assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" 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 football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
