'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish 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 specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"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, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances 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 immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
