'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "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 chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, 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."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
