'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control 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 spring months caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has represented their community in multiple situations.
"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 reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish 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 comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, 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
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The official provided financial support for government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any type of partisan engagement."
