'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's current difficulties constitute a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
The regulator engaged with four fan organizations associated with the Championship side in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, 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 major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"The club represents one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring the club and similar situations brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, 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 league officials in June, blocking the team from conducting any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The chairman stated: "The position was created for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that in modern times have encountered failure, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the regulator on Wednesday 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 if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we've got to keep it going.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official donated money to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
