'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has stated.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field 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.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
