'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, 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 football team recently.
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.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman 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 potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal 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 factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact 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.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The official contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
