Chelsea
have confirmed director Marina Granovskaia will leave the club at the end of
the summer transfer window, with co-controlling owner Todd Boehly named
chairman and interim sporting director.
Granovskaia, who rose to prominence as one of the toughest negotiators in
football during Roman Abramovich's reign, will remain available to support
Boehly for the duration of the current transfer window.
Boehly will operate as sporting director until the club names a full-time
replacement.
"We thank Marina for her many years of excellent service to the club and
wish her all the best in her future ventures," Boehly said in a statement.
Chelsea's recently-confirmed
board members
Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano (co-controlling owners of
Chelsea, and co-founders and managing partners of Clearlake Capital)
Mark Walter (co-owner of Chelsea, co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim
Partners, owner of Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los
Angeles Sparks)
Hansjorg Wyss (co-owner of Chelsea and founder of the Wyss
Foundation)
Jonathan Goldstein (co-owner of Chelsea, co-founder and CEO of Cain
International)
Barbara Charone (director and co-founder of MBC PR)
Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE (columnist and former executive editor
of The Times)
James Pade (partner and managing director of Clearlake Capital) |
Chelsea confirmed chairman Bruce Buck's departure on Monday,
with Boehly replacing him in the role. Buck will continue to support the
club as a senior advisor.
"I am proud to have helped Chelsea realize great success on the pitch and
make a positive impact in the community," Buck said.
Boehly added: "Bruce has led Chelsea Football Club to the highest levels of
international and domestic football, while also developing one of the most
active social responsibility projects in sport.
"We thank Bruce for his service and his commitment to the club."
All the top Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium figureheads have been added
to Chelsea's new board, as the west London club's new era continues to
gather pace.
"As custodians of Chelsea FC, we now begin executing our long-term vision
and plan for the club, creating an outstanding experience for its
passionate, loyal fans, and continuing to challenge for top honours in line
with Chelsea FC's dedicated history," said Boehly.
"Working together, side by side, we are firmly committed to winning, both on
and off the pitch. For us, that effort has begun."
Clearlake chiefs and Chelsea co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Jose
Feliciano have also been added to the Blues' new board.
Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, Swiss magnate Hansjorg Wyss and
British tycoon Jonathan Goldstein have all been officially named on the
Chelsea board.
Music industry supremo Barbara Charone and Tory peer and columnist Daniel
Finkelstein have also been added to the board, along with Clearlake Capital
partner James Pade.
"As the new era of the Boehly-Clearlake ownership begins, we are excited to
build a championship organisation and grow Chelsea FC as a global platform,"
said Eghbali and Feliciano.
"We look forward to backing Thomas Tuchel, Emma Hayes and their teams, and
will provide proactive, unbending support to make Chelsea's loyal fans and
our partners proud."
As acting sporting director, it is understood Boehly has been hands-on in
the role already, playing a key part in the decision to let Romelu Lukaku
rejoin Inter Milan on loan.
Chelsea decided to let the Belgium international depart the club following
talks between Boehly and head coach Thomas Tuchel, and Boehly and the
player.
Boehly and Tuchel wanted to sort out Lukaku's future quickly so they could
focus on strengthening the squad this summer.
Analysis: Granovskaia a 'significant loss'
for Chelsea
Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:
"From what it looks like, Todd Boehly really wants a fresh start with people
he trusts that aren't aligned with the old regime, that are his people.
"He speaks about this 'new way forward' for Chelsea, a fresh vision and he
wants to recruit people that are more in-keeping with his line of thinking
but Marina Granovskaia is going to be a significant loss. She is exemplary.
When you speak to sporting directors that have dealt with her they hold her
in the highest esteem.
"She really turned Chelsea into profit makers with their outgoings which set
the template for the rest of the Premier League teams to follow. I know
Liverpool looked at Chelsea and thought sales are a big way to fund our own
incomings and if we're good at it, it can offset a lot of our costs.
"Boehly's the owner, chairman and interim sporting director, that is way too
much to be doing. As much as Chelsea need to get a move on with their
incomings they also need to quickly sort out the structure behind the
scenes."
Chelsea fixtures: Lampard's Everton first
up, then Spurs
Chelsea kick-off their 2022/23 season with a trip to Frank Lampard's Everton
live on Sky Sports before hosting London rivals Spurs in their first home
game.
Thomas Tuchel's side face a reunion with Blues legend Lampard at Goodison
Park on August 6, kick-off 5.30pm, before Tottenham visit Stamford Bridge a
week later.
Chelsea will host Liverpool in West London on September 17, Manchester
United on October 22 and Arsenal on November 5.
Their final fixture before the month-long break for the World Cup is away at
Newcastle, and they continue their campaign on Boxing Day against
newly-promoted Bournemouth.
Chelsea travel to Tottenham on February 25 and Arsenal on April 29, with the
latter the start of a bumper last five games including Manchester City away
on the penultimate weekend of the season and Newcastle at home on the final
day.
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