'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, 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 deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
