'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
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 last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"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 causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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 chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
