'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. 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, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
