'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes 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 approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "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 compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" 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 incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
