'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations associated with the football team recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri 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 interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
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 Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The official 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 previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
