'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
