'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the football team this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented 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 football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
