'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The team 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.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested 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 maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
