'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified 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 commence engagement with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, 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 top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The official provided financial support for 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 previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
