'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges 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.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is '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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [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 form of political activity."
