'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been channeled 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 take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for 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 official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
