'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the regulator has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the great brands for the English game and in recent days we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement 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 summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the club's situation, 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."
When asked if the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "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 Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, 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 owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the regulator on Wednesday and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But simultaneously, if you talk to the Premier League after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
