'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"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."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, 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."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
