'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
