'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
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 Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
