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Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.

In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.

Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side in recent days.

The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.

"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.

"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.

"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and addressed."

Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation

Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.

Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.

Regulator's Perspective

The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.

"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."

Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."

But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.

"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.

"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."

'Errors may undo substantial development'

Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.

"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.

"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.

"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football 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 take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."

Top Flight Apprehensions

Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.

"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."

Political Connections

The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.

The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.

"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."