'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the football team recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence 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 oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility 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'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
