'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require 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 reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -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 official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
