'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, 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 risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
