'Our role is integral to football's future' - independent football regulator David Kogan
The Championship club's current difficulties represent a a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced.
In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups associated with the football team in recent days.
The football club 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.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the iconic names for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will enable us to take Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and addressed."
Monetary Issues and Leadership Concerns
The club's controversial proprietor Dejphon Chansiri stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers.
Missed wage deadlines on time in spring months led to sanctions by the football authorities in June, blocking the team from conducting any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Authority's Position
The chairman stated: "Our role exists to serve the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the fans themselves."
When asked if the oversight body could require an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the reply is once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be viewed as the ultimate measure and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners.
"The last thing what we want to do is commence engagement with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that chairman to fix the problems affecting the organization and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.
"However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been some owners, a small minority, but particular people who have shown negligence in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually don't wish to take responsibility for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against the team's chairman this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
The regulator engaged representatives from 110 clubs to explain the responsibilities of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made necessary will vanish incredibly quickly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the terms of English football is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress.
"There's an enormous amount of money entering the sport and has come into football for the past two decades, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
The Premier League opposed the formation of an authority because of concerns about detrimental effects on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I fully support the prosperity and expansion as an economic entity of the Premier League.
"As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the top flight as an elite competition of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been telling us in private they have a significant confidence."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party 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 past party membership [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the regulator explained.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
