Chelsea bring battle to the boardroom

PETER KENYON’S imminent boardroom transfer to Chelsea has been read as a signal that Roman Abramovich is intent on challenging Manchester United’s supremacy on the commercial front as well as on the pitch.

With the Old Trafford chief executive thought to be in London on business, a stock market announcement is expected from the United plc this morning that Kenyon will take up a similar role at Stamford Bridge as the latest part of Abramovich's revolution at the capital club.

The Russian billionaire took a matter of weeks to establish the west London club as prime movers in the transfer market with a spending spree unprecedented in the history of the game.