'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game 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 take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
