'We are going to be a part of football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups connected to the Championship side this week.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Obviously the club has become a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," the regulator explained.
"The club represents one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Ownership Situation
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman indicated in the summer 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 caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Authority's Position
Kogan said: "Our role exists to serve the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a regional establishment that has existed throughout their lifetimes in multiple situations.
"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 factors unrelated to the followers."
When asked if the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the challenges confronting the team and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering 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 informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in 2020.
The official contributed funds to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
