'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require 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 compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, 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 next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
