'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head the official has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the football team recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, 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 historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"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 persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, 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 informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
