'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do 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 chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" 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 errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
