'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is 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 authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"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 currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
