'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up 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 caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
