'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
