'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives 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."
Political Connections
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 recent years.
The chairman donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, 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 parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."