'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English 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.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges 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."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'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 stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
