Kenyon to leave Chelsea post

16 September 2009 18:19
Chelsea have announced that chief executive Peter Kenyon is to leave his full-time role at the club. Kenyon, who left Manchester United in 2003 to join the Blues, will depart at the end of October but will continue to represent Chelsea in various capacities, including committee roles with UEFA. Kenyon said: "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." He continued: "I am extremely proud of my time at Chelsea and of the friendships I have forged with everyone here. "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 am also delighted that our relationship is not ending and I can continue to make a contribution to keeping Chelsea in that position and to go back to visit friends." Kenyon, who had to go on 'gardening leave' between leaving United and officially taking up his Chelsea role in early 2004, has been a key public figure in the club's off-the-field transformation. Under owner Roman Abramovich, Kenyon took charge of the business side of the club, with Chelsea having a long-term project of becoming one of the world's most successful and best supported clubs, as well as being profitable. Chelsea have been Premier League champions twice since Kenyon's arrival, with Jose Mourinho behind both title triumphs, and they also reached the 2008 Champions League final.

Source: Eurosport