'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
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 represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish 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 particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
