'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The team's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side recently.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May led to sanctions by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell 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 particular organization, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of the game, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately decline to assume obligation for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been channeled for the past two decades, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an commercial operation of the top division.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The chairman donated money to government minister 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 ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
