'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
