UK media rights expert David Kogan has emerged as UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s choice to chair English football’s independent regulator.
Nandy confirmed Kogan as the front-runner for the chair today, with more information expected on Monday when the second reading of the Football Governance Bill is scheduled to take place.
However, the media rights expert won’t officially take over until after he appears before the Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DMCS) Select Committee, which is set to question him next month.
Kogan began his career as a journalist before establishing Reel Enterprises in 1997, a media advisory firm. Despite selling the company in 2011, Kogan still works with the likes of the Premier League, International Olympic Committee and NFL, working on digital strategies to maximise broadcast rights value.
This experience and his connections will undoubtedly prove invaluable, as his role will be to lead the setup of the new Independent Football Regulator, oversee its strategic direction and ensure it delivers on its mission to protect the long-term sustainability of English football.
Nandy said: “David brings with him a wealth of expertise from the sport and media industries having worked across a number of high-profile governing bodies, competition organisers and major media corporations in a very impressive career. It makes him an outstanding candidate to be the chair of the independent football regulator.
“This will be a vital, public role to ensure sensible, light-touch regulation helps to strengthen financial sustainability and put fans back at the heart of the game.”
However, there have already been questions raised about his potential appointment. This is due to his connection with the Labour Party.
Kogan has written two books about the history of the party and previously held the role of Chair of Labour List, an independent website that reports on Labour-related news. He has also made nine donations to the party, totalling more than £33,000.
However, it is important to note that he applied for the role when it first opened under the previous Conservative government.
Significant steps forward
As noted above, the second reading of the Football Governance Bill is scheduled for next week. While this development demonstrates the progress that has been made by the current government, many stakeholders have stressed the need to accelerate its implementation.
EFL Chairman Rick Parry is one of the stakeholders who feels it needs to be completed “as soon as possible”, and he has suggested that the bill may come into force as early as this summer.
He said: “This is a massive point for football. Getting it out as soon as possible is a game-changer. We all need to recognise football is not doing a great job of self-regulation. Could it be law by June or July? It is possible.”
Though Kogan did not refer to the speed of the process, he explained the importance of the role.
He said: “Across the country millions of us share a passion for football, a game that is not only part of our national heritage but one of our most valuable cultural exports. That’s why as both a supporter and someone with many years spent working in football, I am honoured to have been asked to be the preferred candidate for chair of the newly created Independent Football Regulator.”
He continued by stating that the job of the regulator is to work with clubs, their owners, and their supporters to create a “dynamic framework”.
He concluded: “I cannot wait to get started.”
