'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, 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 June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "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 the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The official provided financial support for 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 fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
