'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four fan organizations associated with the football team this week.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you look back over the history of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the National League to the Premier League.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will continue to come into football, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you consult with top flight officials after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, actually, they have been informing us confidentially they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The chairman donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
