'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the Championship side in recent days.
The football club 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 September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the current proprietor this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives 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 high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in 2020.
The 68-year-old donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
