'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, 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 informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront 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 Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
