'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has announced.
During an extensive discussion, 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 Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently 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 submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at the stadium, but he has not been able to secure a deal with interested parties.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the subsequent signing windows, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in multiple situations.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"The last thing what we want to do is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been particular chairmen, not many, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved necessary will vanish swiftly," 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.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the next two or three years."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the top division.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of the nation. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"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 regulator explained.
"I am presently disconnected from any sort of politics."
