'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly 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 voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"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 entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
