'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
