'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side 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.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, 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, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, 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," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
