'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell 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 understand the situation, 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 work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
