'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
