'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish 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 assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
