United fans question 'loyalty' By Richard Bright Telegraph 09/09/2003 Peter Kenyon's move from Old Trafford to Stamford Bridge has already provoked stinging criticism from Manchester United fans. Oliver Huston, spokesman for Shareholders United, the Manchester United Supporters Trust, has also called into question Kenyon's much-publicised loyalty to the club he has supported since his father took him to watch the European Cup final triumph in 1968. "Peter Kenyon has always made great play of his loyalty to the club and his dyed-in-the-wool support for Manchester United - how sad that his loyalty appears to have been so easily bought," he said. But the move has been welcomed by those close to Chelsea. Colin Hutchinson, the former Chelsea chief executive, said: "It is a shock and is out of the blue, concerning the rivalry down the years between United and Chelsea. "Obviously, as part of the new Chelsea they have brought the guy in to 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 will be moving from a plc with shareholders to satisfy to a private company under new owner Roman Abramovich. Hutchinson added: "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." Peter Ridsdale, the former Leeds United chairman, said: "Peter spent a lot of money when he bought Rio Ferdinand from me at Leeds so he is obviously used to writing big cheques and that is what probably attracted Roman Abramovich."
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