'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The team 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 September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team 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 owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The official donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
