'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
