'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence 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 regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
