'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the football team recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges 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 their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether '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 authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
