'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club 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 earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an specific team, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish rapidly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has been channeled for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, 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
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [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 form of political activity."
