'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the football team this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
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 existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" 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 individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand 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 the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for 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 past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
