'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"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 English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club 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 football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
