'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations 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 delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell 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 comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" 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 world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
