'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side 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 several different times, including in last month.
"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 English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League 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 significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
