Regulator would quit over Man City interference
I think the resignation pledge is a smart piece of positioning, but it's also a test of nerve. The regulator is brand new and untested, and the first big case to land on its desk looks like it will be Manchester City, a club with enormous political and financial weight. Saying "I'll walk if anyone leans on me" draws a line early, which is probably wise. It tells ministers and lobbyists that the regulator intends to be more than a rubber stamp.
What I'd want to know is what counts as interference. A phone call from a minister asking for an update is different from a quiet threat to cut funding or a backroom deal. The pledge sounds firm, but the definition will be worked out in practice, case by case. And the regulator's independence is only as strong as the law and the culture around it.
I don't have a strong view on whether Manchester City should face sanctions or not; that's for the evidence. But the fact that the regulator's first big test involves one of the Premier League's richest clubs tells you how high the stakes are. If he stays, it will be a sign the system can hold. If he goes, we'll know the pressure was real.