'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
