'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell 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 understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, 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 need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football 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 maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding 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 no longer involved in any sort of politics."
