'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel 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 gather the evidence and understand the situation, 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.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances 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."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
