'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days 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 addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
