'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team 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 last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
