'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell 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 understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"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, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" 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 sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football 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 maintain a focused outlook 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 fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to 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 donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
