'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, 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 collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, 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 review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
