'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"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 historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
