'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary 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 ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
