'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the football team recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league 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 fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand 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 fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence 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 work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, 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 "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
