'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" 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 world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," 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.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
