'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the football team this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment 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 among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."