'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
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 last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed 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 begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
