'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been 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 recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"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 coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
