'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The team's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The Championship side have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for English football and recently we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the current proprietor this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit 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.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But concurrently, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
