'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 "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
