'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport 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 take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
