'We will play a key role in football's future' - newly appointed regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is looking to gain the ability to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, its new chair David Kogan has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
Kogan met with four supporters' associations connected to the South Yorkshire club recently.
The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in the autumn.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will allow us to have the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they need to be investigated and addressed."
Financial Struggles and Proprietorship Status
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
When asked if the authority might compel an chairman to relinquish a club if they are judged inappropriate, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that forcing owners to sell clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is start getting involved with an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.
"In actuality, when you review the record of the sport, over the recent generations there have been some owners, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the coming years."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against the team's chairman in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The regulator engaged delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, 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."
Elite Division Worries
Elite division representatives objected to the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of England. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a high level of reassurance."
Political Connections
The regulator remains subject to a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he disclosed making donations to the political party in recent years.
The chairman donated money 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 ideological connection terminated the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
