'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option 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 specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking 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."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
