'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, 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 approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body 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 commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
