'We are going to be a part of football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
The Championship club's ongoing struggles are seen as a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in comparable cases, the newly appointed chairman David Kogan has stated.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups associated with the Championship side recently.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a major concern for the league and a major challenge for the sport," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for English football and in recent days we have met fan representatives.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will allow us to have Wednesday and comparable cases referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any player acquisitions for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August.
Official's Viewpoint
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of 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 completely understand the club's situation, as I do for all the clubs that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or nearly ceased operations, for causes separate from the fans themselves."
Inquired 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 answer is once we assemble the facts and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the regulator clarified that forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the oversight body would choose to collaborate with owners.
"The final option we would consider is commence engagement with an particular organization, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that proprietor to address the challenges confronting the team and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the game, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been some owners, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The regulator engaged officials from numerous teams to detail the scope of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "proactive meeting" with a "substantial involvement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the remarkable development accomplished might evaporate rapidly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, 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 elite division's competitive balance, but the regulator stated: "I fully support the success and growth as an economic entity of the elite league.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But at the same time, if you talk to the Premier League after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been informing us confidentially they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
Kogan is still facing a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he revealed he contributed money to the Labour Party in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the government leader.
"I have fully disclosed my past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the parliamentary committee confirmed my selection," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
