'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with 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 "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"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," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
