'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team 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.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
