'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four fan organizations connected to the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for football in England and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do 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 owner's facing," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective 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 elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
