'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" 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, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side 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 the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, 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."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
