'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up 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 led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. 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 considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments 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 now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
