'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri 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 potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, 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 select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
