'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts 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 work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances 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."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
