'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the football team recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled 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 potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth 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 at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding 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 sort of politics."
