'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
