'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee 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."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
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 official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
