'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in 2025, with the club delaying salary disbursements 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 iconic names for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"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 addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, 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."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met 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 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 significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, 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 parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
