'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league 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.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control 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 resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook 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 elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, 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
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
