'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The team's current difficulties represent a a "significant problem" and the football regulator is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, the recently named head David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become 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 this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they require examination and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner stated during the off-season he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in summer, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or been close to going to the wall, for factors unrelated to the supporters."
When asked if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, 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 requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the sport, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an financial organization of the elite league.
"I of all people understand the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But concurrently, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any sort of politics."
