'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a 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.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field 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 substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, 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 collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved 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.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
