'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, 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."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest 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 know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
