'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about 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 am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
