'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, 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 judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years 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 don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
