'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, 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," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
