'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization 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 causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, 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 clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
