'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations connected to the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled 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 potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
