'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a substantial concern for English football," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts and understand the situation, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the immediate future."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an financial organization of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in 2020.
The chairman contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the politician's campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have fully disclosed my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
