'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side this week.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances 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 risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The official provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
