'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the new football authority is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was recently selected, voiced concern towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the football team this week.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club delaying salary disbursements on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," Kogan told.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."
Economic Challenges and Proprietorship Status
The club's controversial proprietor the current owner indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where people are committed to a community organization that has represented their community in many cases.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or approached financial ruin, for causes separate from the supporters."
Inquired if the authority might compel an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an individual club, an specific proprietor, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"But the truth is, when you review the record of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the way which they've been managing their organizations and finally decline to assume obligation for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"The role holds considerable importance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a substantial accomplishment - we must maintain momentum.
"Considerable investment flowing into the game and has been invested for the recent generations, because certainty is lacking it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a significant degree of comfort -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the political party in recent years.
The 68-year-old provided financial support for Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
