'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
The Championship club's persistent issues represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.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 local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
When asked if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, 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 chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [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 type of partisan engagement."
