'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team 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 supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"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 continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse 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 this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
