'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team 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 supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish 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 the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, 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
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
