'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"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."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee 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 risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
