'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents 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 English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell 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 individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, 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 informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
