'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the football team recently.
The football club 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 substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. 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 telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
