'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "If your question is '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 requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The chairman 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 have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
