'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
