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Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.

In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.

Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the football team 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 September.

"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.

"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.

"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."

Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status

The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.

Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.

Official's Viewpoint

The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.

"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."

When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."

But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.

"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.

"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."

'Errors may undo substantial development'

The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.

"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.

"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.

"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."

Top Flight Apprehensions

Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.

"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."

Political Connections

The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.

The chairman contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.

"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.

"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."