'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season 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 led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
