'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
