'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, its new chair the official has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee 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 risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The official donated money 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 ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
