'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old 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 have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
