'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
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 significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel 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 response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, 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
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in 2020.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
