'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements 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," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, 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 creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
