'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, 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.
"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 issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week 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 world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, 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 challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
