'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee 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 next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, 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 high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
