Sheffield Wednesday struggles ‘significant problem’, says new independent football regulator chair David Kogan
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a “proactive meeting” with a “high level of engagement” from the National League to the Premier League.
“It’s a job that’s actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that’s been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly,” Kogan said.
“And that’s what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story – we’ve got to keep it going.
“There’s an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there’s no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years.”
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight’s competitiveness, but Kogan said: “I’m absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
“I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League 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.”
Kogan is still facing a “full inquiry” by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy’s leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
“I’ve been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment,” Kogan said.
“I am no longer involved in any sort of politics.”
When asked why government had ratified his appointment before the inquiry concluded, Kogan insisted: “I’ve co-operated with [the inquiry].
“But actually we have an enormous amount to do, and the way we can best do that is by having an appointed chair and the only way you could do that was by triggering my appointment this week.
“The world of football was crying out for engagement with the regulator, and that’s why we’ve had to move.”
