'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
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.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, 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 teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" 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 sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
