'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the football team this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook 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 Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for government minister 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 party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
