'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking 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 risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, 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 select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
