Centrica chief tipped for Man U post

The chief executive of energy group Centrica is being tipped to take over as chairman of top flight football club Manchester United, it has emerged.

Roy Gardner is expected to replace current incumbent Sir Roland Smith, 73, in March.

Reports in The Observer and Sunday Telegraph added that his appointment would be announced by the club, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, in the next few weeks.

Mr Gardner is a devoted Manchester United supporter and became a non-executive director of the Premiership side in 1999.

The Observer added that the City views Mr Gardner as a ‘‘marketing genius’’.

Mr Gardner became finance director of British Gas, the forerunner of Centrica, in 1994 before moving on to the chief executive role.

Slough-based Centrica has recently been expanding beyond its core energy offering.

It has launched the Goldfish credit card, bought breakdown services group AA and acquired the UK arm of Australian telecom group One.Tel.

Before joining British Gas, Mr Gardner was managing director of GEC Marconi, the precursor of beleaguered telecom group Marconi.