'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, 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 the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
