'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell 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 begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
