'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted 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'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed 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 currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
