'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
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.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for 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."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted 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 errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition 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, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
