'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
