'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri 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 interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "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 requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed 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 form of political activity."
