Kenyon switch comes as surprise - Hutchinson

Former Chelsea chief executive Colin Hutchinson admitted Peter Kenyon’s switch from Manchester United to Stamford Bridge was a total surprise.

Reports suggest United chief executive Kenyon is to leave Old Trafford to join the revolution which is currently taking place at Chelsea under new owner Roman Abramovich.

The Russian billionaire has so far invested more than £100million in recruiting new players but Kenyon’s arrival would be his first major signing off the pitch.

The loss of Kenyon, a self-confessed United fan, will be a huge blow to the Red Devils as he is a well-respected figure in world football with many major connections both inside and outside the sport.

“It is a shock and is out of the blue, concerning the rivalry down the years between United and Chelsea,” said Hutchinson.

“Obviously, as part of the new Chelsea they have brought the guy in to presumably try to surpass United.

“He is a very good businessman. I think it is fair to say that what he has done commercially has made them streets ahead in England as far as resources are concerned.

“If you look globally at their financial situation – compared to Real Madrid who have assembled a superb squad but also piled up a load of debt – they are on a sound footing.

“He will be a big loss to Manchester United.”

Kenyon, interestingly, will be moving from a plc with shareholders to satisfy to a newly-formed private company under Abramovich, where there will be less pressure to keep a tight hold on the purse strings.

Hutchinson told Sky Sports News: “I think the interesting thing is Chelsea, in recent times, has got its soul back and it is back to a football club.

“There has been a feeling among supporters over the last couple of years that perhaps the priority was not football and there was a distraction from the plc.

“I think obviously Peter will be involved throughout but it won’t make that much difference on a day-to-day basis to (manager) Claudio Ranieri. The football side has got its own structures.”