'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"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 proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
