'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club 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 last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, 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," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged 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 lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
