'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days 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 need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit 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.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
