'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club 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 the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game 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 brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment 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 one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"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 no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
