'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
