'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and this week 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 addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner 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 potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football 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 adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations 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 current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
