'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" 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 remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The official contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
