🔗 Share this article

The Championship club's ongoing struggles represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in similar circumstances, the recently named head the regulator has declared.

In a wide-ranging interview, the chairman, who was named to the position this week, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.

Kogan met with four supporter groups connected to the South Yorkshire club this week.

The football club have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in last month.

"Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a significant problem for EFL and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for the English game and in recent days we have met fan representatives.

"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will enable us to take the club and similar situations submitted for our review if they require examination and addressed."

Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns

Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be open to selling the club at their home ground, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.

Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year resulted in restrictions being imposed by the English Football League (EFL) in June, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in late summer.

Authority's Position

Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, other clubs in similar situations where fans are dedicated to a community organization that has represented their community in multiple situations.

"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for factors unrelated to the supporters."

Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are considered unfit, Kogan said: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is 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 considered the final option and the authority would rather to cooperate with proprietors.

"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an individual owner, without being able to work with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," Kogan said.

"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the recent generations there have been particular chairmen, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the long-term prospects."

'Mistakes could erase significant advances'

Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.

"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the football community fails, the significant advances achieved could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.

"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 entering the sport and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."

Premier League Concerns

The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the achievement and development as an commercial operation of the elite league.

"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."

Ideological Links

Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the official appointments authority after he revealed he contributed money to the opposition group in recent years.

The 68-year-old donated money to government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.

"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.

"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."