'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the Championship side in recent days.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for causes separate from the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against the current proprietor in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, 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 immediate future."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
