'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner 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.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"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 flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
