'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 look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football 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 acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts 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 authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"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 incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The official donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
