The head of English football's independent regulator has declared he would resign if faced with any political interference concerning the future of Manchester City. David Kogan, chairman of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), holds the authority to assess the suitability of club owners and executives.

Should an independent commission's findings of Premier League financial rule breaches by Manchester City be upheld, the IFR would be tasked with determining whether to mandate a sale. This stance comes amid recent comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who expressed concern about the potential sale of Manchester City by its Abu Dhabi owners, a statement that drew criticism.

Responding to questions about Burnham's remarks, Kogan emphasized the regulator's independence, stating, "We are independent. That is in the name." He added that no politician has attempted to influence their proceedings and affirmed, "I would resign" if subjected to political pressure over the case.

Manchester City has been accused by an independent commission of breaking financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The club allegedly created sham contracts with commercial partners to secretly funnel over £830 million into its football operations. Manchester City maintains its innocence and has lodged an appeal against these findings.

Prime Minister Burnham's initial comments to the BBC about his concerns were later clarified, with him denying that his reaction had diminished the seriousness of the commission's findings. However, some Premier League clubs reportedly expressed apprehension about potential political interference in the appeal process due to Burnham's previous role as mayor of Greater Manchester and his relationship with City's ownership.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had previously called for the disclosure of all meeting details between the Prime Minister and senior figures associated with Manchester City. The government released these details earlier this week.

Kogan reiterated the regulator's commitment to a statutory process, stating, "We have a very, very clear course of action that is governed by statute and we are going to follow that course of action." He stressed that commentary from politicians or any other individuals would not sway their decision-making, asserting, "Process is going to drive what we do."

The regulator cannot reach any conclusions at this stage, as the outcome of Manchester City's appeal is still pending. The process itself will guide the eventual decision, irrespective of external commentary.