'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up 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 June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view 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 fully support the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering 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, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
