'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations associated with the Championship side this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate 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 sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"Such an outcome is universally undesirable in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, 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."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
