'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, 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 regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in earlier this year caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield 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 team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
When asked if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish rapidly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
