'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... 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 Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"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 nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"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.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."