'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 football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England 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 require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor 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 prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" 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 significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment 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 among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in 2020.
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 previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
