'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
