'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team 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 last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, 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 "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
