'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization 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, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences 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.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
