'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the football team this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition 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 substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
