'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with 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 multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control 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 resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" 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 could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, 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."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
