'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the regulator's chair
The team's current difficulties constitute a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the football team this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, 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 substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'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 "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, 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
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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."
