'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements 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.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization 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."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "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 chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money 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 party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
