🔗 Share this article Sheffield Wednesday Confronts a 'Significant Problem', Says New Football Authority 'We will play a key role in football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman The team's ongoing struggles constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to examine team situations in similar circumstances, its new chair the official has announced. In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, showed understanding towards Wednesday's fanbase. The chairman convened with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days. The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club failing to pay players on time on several different times, including in September. "Clearly Sheffield Wednesday has been a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the chairman stated. "The club represents one of the great brands for the English game and this week we have met Sheffield Wednesday supporters' groups. "We're now looking to get powers... which will enable us to take Wednesday and comparable cases brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with." Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with prospective buyers. Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May caused limitations by the football authorities in mid-year, stopping Wednesday from completing any transfers or loans for the following recruitment periods, although the ban was rescinded in August. Official's Viewpoint Kogan said: "The position was created for the Owls followers, teams facing challenges where people are committed to a local institution that has existed throughout their lifetimes in many cases. "I fully appreciate the team's plight, as I do for all the clubs that over recent decades have faced collapse, or nearly ceased operations, for factors unrelated to the followers." When asked if the regulator could force an owner to sell a club if they are judged inappropriate, the chairman responded: "If your question is 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will." But the chairman emphasized that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to collaborate with owners. "Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an individual club, an individual owner, without being in a position to cooperate with that chairman to fix the challenges confronting the team and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained. "However, realistically, when you review the record of football, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but particular people who have shown negligence in the manner they have operated their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects." Wednesday followers have been voicing opposition to the current proprietor this season 'Mistakes could erase significant advances' The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and maintained it represented a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the lower divisions to the top flight. "This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the extraordinary progress that's been made might evaporate rapidly," Kogan said. "And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we need to continue the progress. "Considerable investment flowing into the game and has come into football for the last 20 or 25 years, because certainty is lacking it will persist in entering the game, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on potential dangers and naturally, of the immediate future." Top Flight Apprehensions Elite division representatives objected to the formation of an authority because of fears of a negative impact 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. "As someone who appreciates the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of this country. But simultaneously, 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 advising us privately they have a significant confidence." Ideological Links The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the Labour Party in 2020. The official provided financial support for government minister the politician's campaign, along with that of the current Prime Minister. "I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the select committee approved my appointment," the chairman stated. "I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."