'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in such situations, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations associated with the South Yorkshire club recently.
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 September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up 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 June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern '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 the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the current proprietor during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted 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 errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
