'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments 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 historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether '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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, 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 coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
