'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
