'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the football team in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch 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 substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The official donated money 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 previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
