'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, 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 parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
