'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," 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 invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed 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 fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, 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 regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
