'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side recently.
The Championship side 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 major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee 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 potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to 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 select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
