'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the league officials in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate 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 fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is 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 work with them.
"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 owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'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 stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the extraordinary progress that's been made 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 flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to government minister 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 parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
