'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest 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 collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
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 official provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
