'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is '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 regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was 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 football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, 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 next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
