'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand 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."
Questioned about whether 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 response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
