'Our role is integral to 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 look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
