'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is '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 requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, 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 immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
