'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the football team 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 last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with 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," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, 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 informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
