'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
