'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, 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, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates 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 significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
