'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
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 chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives 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 considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
