'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
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 been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"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 am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
