'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose 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 problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
