'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to examine team situations in comparable cases, the recently named head the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for the English game and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri 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 regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
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 Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
