'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, 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 since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information 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 authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. 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 telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The official donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
