'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish 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 comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
