'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind 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 concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The chairman donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
