'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief David Kogan
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues represent a a "significant problem" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to investigate clubs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has stated.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, showed understanding towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups associated with the football team this week.
The Championship side have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a major concern for the league and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the historic institutions for football in England and this week we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations referred to us if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status
The team's struggling chairman the current owner stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Delayed salary payments on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the following recruitment periods, although that restriction was lifted in August.
Regulator's Perspective
The regulator explained: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"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 fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, 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 forcing owners to sell clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the regulator explained.
"In actuality, when you look back over the history of football, over the last 20 or 30 years there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."
Wednesday followers have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved might evaporate incredibly quickly," Kogan said.
"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a major achievement - we must maintain momentum.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but Kogan said: "I'm absolutely committed to the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"I of all people understand the apprehension regarding damaging the top flight as an elite competition of England. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the opposition group in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the regulator explained.
"I am no longer involved in any form of political activity."
