'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The Championship club's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination 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 failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The official provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
