'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the Championship side this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option 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 owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - 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 there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view 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 fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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 regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
