'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel 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 collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
