Did Kenyon jump or was he pushed?
The Chelsea chief executive will leave his post next month after five years in the job and says he will consider his options before deciding what to do next, hinting he has “at least one major challenge left” in his career.
Such a high-profile departure would normally be preceded by weeks of speculation but Kenyon’s announcement came as a surprise to most followers of the London club.
Chelsea insist it has nothing to do with the recent Gael Kakuta case which could see Chelsea banned from signing players for two transfer windows. In fact, Kenyon will continue to work on Chelsea’s appeal to FIFA over a charge that they poached the 16-year-old from Lens, even if it continues beyond his October 21 departure date, and will also represent the club on UEFA and European Clubs’ Association committees in a role as non-executive director.
That indicates that Kenyon’s relationship with the club remains strong and knocks down rumours that an internal power struggle with Frank Arnesen, recently promoted to sporting director, could be behind his departure.
More likely is that Kenyon has an eye on a possible opening at Manchester City, who could benefit greatly from his experience of building a club newly taken over by a wealthy owner and turning into a world power.
Kenyon arrived at Stamford Bridge just a year after Roman Abramovich and although he has not always been popular he has been high profile and largely successful, boosting turnover and instigating a lucrative shirt sponsorship with Samsung and a kit deal with adidas. And although he failed in his bid to see Chelsea break even, the club, which had a net spend of £174m on transfers during his time in charge and won the Premier League twice, has seen debt levels slashed.
In football terms, however, Kenyon’s copybook has been blotted by a run of poor managerial choices in recent times. So perhaps it was the short-lived appointments of Avram Grant and Luiz-Felipe Scolari and the failure to sign Robinho that signed his Stamford Bridge death warrant. Certainly there will be some commentators who take that line, even if Kenyon’s departure quotes were nothing short of lovey-dovey.
“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,” he said.
“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. 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.”
Perhaps, at the end of it all, critics may have to accept that whatever the conspiracy theories Kenyon had run his time at Stamford Bridge and now has other plans, even if a move to City would surely be hampered by his continuing work at the Bridge.
Only Roman Abramovich knows the real truth, of course, but chairman Bruce Buck officially drew a line under the debate. “Peter has done a fantastic job for Chelsea in the last five-and-a-half years and has been absolutely central to the success on and off the field we have had during that time. Without his football knowledge and business acumen Chelsea would not be where we are today.
“When Peter first joined us we knew we were recruiting a top executive from business generally, not just football. With that always came a certain inevitability he would eventually want to seek a new challenge and I am sure that is what he will do. Whatever his next permanent job we wish him the best of luck in the future. He will always be welcome back at Chelsea.”
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