'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... 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 Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do 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 chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
