'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
