'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, 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."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"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 entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
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 fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed 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 currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
