'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in 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 chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in 2020.
The official provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
