'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The team's persistent issues represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the newly appointed chairman the official has announced.
During an extensive discussion, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, showed understanding towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season 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 earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in mid-year, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for each organization 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."
Inquired if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an individual club, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to the team's chairman during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and insisted it was a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear swiftly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after the recent gathering, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The regulator remains subject to a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in the past.
The official contributed funds to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
