'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, 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 fans themselves."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."