'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, 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 historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require 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 answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell 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 individual club, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, 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 coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was 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 world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
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 success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
