'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as 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.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the football team this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club 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 caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" 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 could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game 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 take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product 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, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
