'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the followers."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish 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 collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - 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 certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."