'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
