'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the South Yorkshire club in recent days.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for football in England and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman the current owner indicated in the summer he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any transfers or loans for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, 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 judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment entering the sport and has come into football for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
