'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the football team this week.
The Championship side 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.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion 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 the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
