'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "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 been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted 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 significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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 party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
