SOCCER:CHELSEA ANNOUNCED yesterday that their chief executive, Peter Kenyon, is leaving the club next month after five years at Stamford Bridge. The 55-year-old, who became Roman Abramovich's first major appointment in February 2004 after being poached from Manchester United, will stay on as a non-executive director beyond October 31st when he steps down from his current role.
Although the timing of the departure caused surprise, there have been ongoing rumours that Kenyon has experienced a gradual erosion of a power base which was at its strongest following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager in 2004 and the consecutive Premier League titles won by the Portuguese.
Kenyon and the club were keen to stress that the resignation was his decision, with it apparently being taken some time after Chelsea’s tour of the United States, which was in July. Chelsea are expected to make an announcement on any successor almost immediately.
The Gael Kakuta affair, which has caused the club to be banned by Fifa from signing any players until January 2011, will inevitably be suggested as a reason for the departure. But given that Kenyon will fight the appeal and continue to speak for Chelsea in their representations to world football’s governing body, whether Kakuta is a factor appears moot.
One view which has gained currency is that Kenyon lost real control of transfer policy once Chelsea missed out on Robinho to Manchester City, who will inevitably be linked to appointing him, last summer, making his departure a matter of time. He was also, reportedly, away on holiday when Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked in February.
There will be further speculation that the rise of Frank Arnesen, the director of football who now sits on the board, also impacted on Kenyon’s influence. But a counter-view is that, having landed two record commercial deals for Chelsea – with the shirt sponsor Samsung and the kit supplier Adidas – and with a young family, this was the perfect time for him to depart.
“I am extremely proud of my time at Chelsea and of the friendships I have forged with everyone here,” Kenyon said.
“I have been in football for 15 years and I can say with great certainty and pleasure the experience at Chelsea is one of the best I have had. When I joined Chelsea it was an incredible challenge and together with all the staff, the players, the board and Roman, I think we have really built a club, in a relatively short space of time, that can be in the forefront of European football for many years to come. That is a major achievement.
“I would like to wish Chelsea the best of luck for the rest of the season. I am sure Carlo can lead the team to more great things. I intend to take a little time off before considering what I do next but I am certain I have at least one major challenge left in me.”
Despite this mention of a further “major challenge”, Kenyon’s ongoing role as a non-executive director will, the club said, “represent Chelsea on various Uefa and European Club Association committees,” suggesting that, in the short term at least, he will find it problematic to accept a role at another Premier League club.
Kenyon’s severance deal did not include a non-compete clause, which would have prevented him from joining any of Chelsea’s rivals unless a period of gardening leave was undertaken. That would seem to support his assertion that he will take a break from the business end of the game.
If Kenyon is directly replaced, Karren Brady, the Birmingham City chief executive who is leaving St Andrew’s, may be considered, although she has said she intends to continue working alongside David Sullivan, who is also set to leave Birmingham but will seek another club.
