'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, 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.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly 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 protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football 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 take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, 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 "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
