'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, 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 supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
