'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence 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.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, 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," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances 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 risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product 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 high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The chairman donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
