'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side 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 the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option 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 being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials 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 high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
