'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the football team in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, 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 official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
