'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The team's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal 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 summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "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 Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work 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, few in number, 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 future."
Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "significant participation" 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 football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because there are no assurances 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 next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, 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 informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
