'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 "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.
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 the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, 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 oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking 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 immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
