'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "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 Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee 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 completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising 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, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
