'We are going to be a part of football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as 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 official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in last month.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, 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 caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for 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 numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, 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 challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary 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 political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
