'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining 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 establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
