'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner 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.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
