MightyBees
09 Sep 2003, 07:03 AM
Chelsea and Manchester United have both confirmed their new chief executives to the Stock Exchange in the wake of Peter Kenyon's defection to Stamford Bridge.
Man Utd told the City on Tuesday their managing director David Gill would replace Kenyon "with immediate effect".
Chelsea issued a statement shortly after saying that Kenyon would become their new chief executive, with his role in west London "set to commence as permitted by contractual arrangements" at Old Trafford.
That means 49-year-old Kenyon will have to serve a period of "gardening leave" at Man Utd before he is free to take up the role as chief executive of Chelsea Village PLC - parent company of Chelsea Football Club.
It is uncertain how his appointment will affect current Blues chief executive Trevor Birch.
Kenyon will become the latest arrival at Chelsea following the takeover of the club by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea's summer transfer spree has seen them spend more than £111m on players.
Kenyon's solicitors confirmed in a statement that he had accepted Chelsea's offer.
It read: "Peter Kenyon has recently been offered the job of Chief Executive Officer of the Chelsea group of companies, a position that he has accepted.
"The new opportunity that has arisen at Chelsea represents a challenge that Mr Kenyon feels is right to take at this stage in his career."
Shares in Man Utd were 4% lower at 170.5 pence in late morning trading on Tuesday. Following the Abramovich takeover, Chelsea shares are no longer traded.
A United statement on Monday read: "The board of Manchester United plc is delighted to announce the appointment of David Gill as its new chief executive with immediate effect, to replace Peter Kenyon who has resigned today.
Gill will take the reigns at United
"Mr Kenyon will now go on garden leave in accordance with the terms of his contract."
Manchester United PLC chairman Sir Roy Gardner added: "We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years.
"David, as managing director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position."
Gill, 46, admitted that Kenyon's decision to quit Old Trafford had come as a shock.
"It was a bolt out of the blue but we have to move on," he told MUTV.
"I've worked with Alex [Ferguson] for six-and-a-half years on all the big deals and I believe that I can develop the same close relationship with him that Peter had."
DAVID GILL
1997: Joins Manchester United PLC as finance director from First Choice Holidays
Aug 2000: Appointed deputy chief executive, replacing Peter Kenyon who is made chief executive
July 2001: Promoted to group managing director
Kenyon's defection met with an angry response from an influential United fans group.
Oliver Huston, spokesman for Shareholders United, the Manchester United Supporters Trust, questioned Kenyon's loyalty to the club he has supported since his father took him to watch their European Cup final triumph in 1968.
"Peter Kenyon has always made great play of his loyalty to the club and his dyed-in-the-wool support for Manchester United - how sad that his loyalty appears to have been so easily bought," Huston said.
Kenyon took over from Martin Edwards at Old Trafford in August 2000 and was instrumental in persuading manager Sir Alex Ferguson to extend his stay at the club.
I really don't know what to expect next from Chelsea!
From JF DI
Have your say on 606
He also presided over the signings of Juan Sebastian Veron, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rio Ferdinand, and played a key part in securing sponsorship deals with Vodafone and Nike.
Former Chelsea chief executive Colin Hutchinson admitted he was "flabbergasted" at the move, but believes it will be a huge boost for the Blues.
"He is a very good businessman," Hutchinson said. "What he has done commercially for United has made them streets ahead in England.
"Having Peter on board should help make Chelsea a truly global brand."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3091316.stm
Man Utd told the City on Tuesday their managing director David Gill would replace Kenyon "with immediate effect".
Chelsea issued a statement shortly after saying that Kenyon would become their new chief executive, with his role in west London "set to commence as permitted by contractual arrangements" at Old Trafford.
That means 49-year-old Kenyon will have to serve a period of "gardening leave" at Man Utd before he is free to take up the role as chief executive of Chelsea Village PLC - parent company of Chelsea Football Club.
It is uncertain how his appointment will affect current Blues chief executive Trevor Birch.
Kenyon will become the latest arrival at Chelsea following the takeover of the club by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea's summer transfer spree has seen them spend more than £111m on players.
Kenyon's solicitors confirmed in a statement that he had accepted Chelsea's offer.
It read: "Peter Kenyon has recently been offered the job of Chief Executive Officer of the Chelsea group of companies, a position that he has accepted.
"The new opportunity that has arisen at Chelsea represents a challenge that Mr Kenyon feels is right to take at this stage in his career."
Shares in Man Utd were 4% lower at 170.5 pence in late morning trading on Tuesday. Following the Abramovich takeover, Chelsea shares are no longer traded.
A United statement on Monday read: "The board of Manchester United plc is delighted to announce the appointment of David Gill as its new chief executive with immediate effect, to replace Peter Kenyon who has resigned today.
Gill will take the reigns at United
"Mr Kenyon will now go on garden leave in accordance with the terms of his contract."
Manchester United PLC chairman Sir Roy Gardner added: "We would like to thank Peter for his significant contribution to the success of Manchester United on and off the pitch in the last six years.
"David, as managing director, has also played a major role in that success, and we are delighted that his appointment will bring both experience and continuity to this position."
Gill, 46, admitted that Kenyon's decision to quit Old Trafford had come as a shock.
"It was a bolt out of the blue but we have to move on," he told MUTV.
"I've worked with Alex [Ferguson] for six-and-a-half years on all the big deals and I believe that I can develop the same close relationship with him that Peter had."
DAVID GILL
1997: Joins Manchester United PLC as finance director from First Choice Holidays
Aug 2000: Appointed deputy chief executive, replacing Peter Kenyon who is made chief executive
July 2001: Promoted to group managing director
Kenyon's defection met with an angry response from an influential United fans group.
Oliver Huston, spokesman for Shareholders United, the Manchester United Supporters Trust, questioned Kenyon's loyalty to the club he has supported since his father took him to watch their European Cup final triumph in 1968.
"Peter Kenyon has always made great play of his loyalty to the club and his dyed-in-the-wool support for Manchester United - how sad that his loyalty appears to have been so easily bought," Huston said.
Kenyon took over from Martin Edwards at Old Trafford in August 2000 and was instrumental in persuading manager Sir Alex Ferguson to extend his stay at the club.
I really don't know what to expect next from Chelsea!
From JF DI
Have your say on 606
He also presided over the signings of Juan Sebastian Veron, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rio Ferdinand, and played a key part in securing sponsorship deals with Vodafone and Nike.
Former Chelsea chief executive Colin Hutchinson admitted he was "flabbergasted" at the move, but believes it will be a huge boost for the Blues.
"He is a very good businessman," Hutchinson said. "What he has done commercially for United has made them streets ahead in England.
"Having Peter on board should help make Chelsea a truly global brand."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3091316.stm