'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the football team in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "If your question is '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 the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
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 regulator stated: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
