'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, 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, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" 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 football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
