'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
