'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit 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 errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
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 financial organization of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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 chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
