'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in June, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, 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."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
