'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, 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
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority 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 elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
