'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the football team in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, 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 particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
