'Our role is integral to football's future' - newly appointed regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties constitute a "major concern" and the new football authority is seeking powers to investigate clubs in comparable cases, its new chair the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the regulator, who was named to the position this week, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been experiencing difficulties in multiple areas in the current year, with the club failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.
"Wednesday stands as one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We are seeking authority... which will allow us to have Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and dealt with."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has not been able to secure a deal with prospective buyers.
Failure to pay player wages on time in spring months resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in August.
Authority's Position
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where fans are dedicated to a local institution that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I fully appreciate Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or nearly ceased operations, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Questioned about whether the regulator could force an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and understand the situation, we will."
But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the regulator would prefer to cooperate with proprietors.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an particular organization, an specific proprietor, without being able to work with that owner to try and resolve the problems affecting the organization and the proprietor's dealing with," the regulator explained.
"But the truth is, when you examine the past of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, not many, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Owls fans have been voicing opposition to owner Dejphon Chansiri in recent months
'Errors may undo substantial development'
The chairman convened with officials from numerous teams to explain the responsibilities of the authority recently and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "high level of engagement" from the grassroots to elite level.
"It's a job that's actually really important, because if errors are made, if the football community fails, the remarkable development accomplished necessary will vanish swiftly," the regulator warned.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a huge success story - we must maintain momentum.
"There's an enormous amount of money coming into football and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, 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."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the formation of an authority because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the top-flight's competitiveness, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the prosperity and expansion as an financial organization of the elite league.
"Being fully aware of the concern of undermining the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after the recent gathering, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."
Partisan Associations
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the Commissioner for Public Appointments after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The 68-year-old donated money to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.
"I've been completely open about my past party membership [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I currently have no participation in any form of political activity."
