'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
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 September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is 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 regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement 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 chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
