'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do 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 chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
