'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish 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 collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather 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 proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently 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 world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining 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 high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
