'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football 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 similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."