'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's persistent issues are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
