'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
The team's ongoing struggles represent a a "serious issue" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in such situations, its new chair the regulator has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporters' associations connected to the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the current owner suggested earlier this year he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in March and May led to sanctions by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although that restriction was lifted in the end of the transfer window.
Authority's Position
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 community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the team's plight, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we gather the evidence and understand the situation, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their organizations and finally don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the next two or three years."
Elite Division Worries
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But concurrently, 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 telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated.
"I am no longer involved in any sort of politics."
