'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
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 not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether 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 reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, 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 particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
