'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
