'We are going to be a part of 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, the recently named head the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team 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 the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"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 come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
