'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations representing the football team recently.
The Championship side 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.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations 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stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League 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."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
