'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups 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 the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been 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 recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
