'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side in recent days.
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 major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman 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 prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The official provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
