'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands 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 require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year 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 resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with 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.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted 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 success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
