'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 new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding 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 presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
