'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
The Championship club's ongoing struggles constitute a "major concern" and the football regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards Wednesday's fanbase.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the South Yorkshire club this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in last month.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and recently we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we assemble the facts 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 authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an specific team, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against the team's chairman in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"The role holds considerable importance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will continue to come into football, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of fears of a negative impact on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the regulator stated: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the top division.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after today's meeting, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, in fact, they have been informing us confidentially they have a considerable comfort."
Partisan Associations
The regulator remains subject to a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.
The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any type of partisan engagement."
