'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to 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 last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"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 addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, 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."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
