'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, 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 telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
