'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... 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
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"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 factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football 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 channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about 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 currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
