'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether '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 viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
