'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed 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 individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand 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 substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
