'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
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 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 iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, 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."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" 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 Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
