'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the football team recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, 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," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
