'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they need to be investigated and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell 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 specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment 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 part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, 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 form of political activity."
