'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"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 football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"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 acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish 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 know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish 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 begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate 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 football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman 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 stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials 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 "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The official contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
