'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs 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 authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, 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.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
