'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials 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 high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
