'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"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 causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history 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 organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining 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 formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"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 substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
