'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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 chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
