'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team 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 multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in summer, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, 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 organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
