'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the Championship side this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence 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 oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."