'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, 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 approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" 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 necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"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 coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour 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 now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
