'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible 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 voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
