'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
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 existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" 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 necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately 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 chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
