'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"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 dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, 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 "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
