'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the football team recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, 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 final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
