'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence 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 demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
