'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the football team this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas 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 significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, 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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives 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 high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister 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 select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
