'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the recently named head the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week 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 submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved 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 regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
