'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
