'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, 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."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority 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 commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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 official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
