'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, 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 risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in 2020.
The official provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
